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The Daily Insight

What causes Hyperresonance

Author

Mia Morrison

Published Mar 13, 2026

Hyperresonant sounds may also be heard when percussing lungs hyperinflated with air, such as may occur in patients with COPD, or patients having an acute asthmatic attack. An area of hyperresonance on one side of the chest may indicate a pneumothorax. Tympanic sounds are hollow, high, drumlike sounds.

What does Hyperresonance of lungs mean?

Medical Definition of hyperresonance : an exaggerated chest resonance heard in various abnormal pulmonary conditions.

Why does pneumothorax cause Hyperresonance?

There will be hyper-resonance on the side of pneumothorax due to the presence of air in pleural space. Loss of cardiac or hepatic dullness can be noted if there is sufficient air to overlay these structures. Breath Sounds are dramatically decreased secondary to decreased ventilation on the side of pneumothorax.

What causes increased vocal resonance?

Evaluating for vocal fremitus, in the hands of an experienced examiner, can quickly rule in or out clinical issues of concern. Causes of increased vocal fremitus: pneumonia, lung abscess. Causes of decreased vocal fremitus: pleural effusion, pneumothorax, emphysema.

What causes Hyperresonance in asthma?

Hyperresonant sounds may also be heard when percussing lungs hyperinflated with air, such as may occur in patients with COPD, or patients having an acute asthmatic attack. An area of hyperresonance on one side of the chest may indicate a pneumothorax.

What does vocal resonance indicate?

Overview. Vocal resonance is an assessment of the density of lung tissue, performed by auscultating the chest and asking the patient to speak. Increased vocal resonance suggests increased density, while reduced vocal resonance suggests an increase in the amount of air present.

What causes emphysema?

Emphysema is one of the most preventable respiratory illnesses because it is so strongly linked to smoking. Air pollutants, an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and respiratory infections can also play a role, but smoking is considered the number one cause.

What causes increased Fremitus?

Increased intensity of tactile fremitus generally occurs as a result of increased density within the lung tissue. This commonly occurs as a result of lung consolidation, which refers to the replacement of the air within healthy lung tissue with another substance; either inflammatory exudate, blood, pus, or cells.

Why are breath sounds increased in consolidation?

Bronchial breath sounds contain much higher frequency components than normal breath sounds due to alteration of the low pass filtering function of the alveoli, as occurs in consolidation.

Does tension pneumothorax cause Hyperresonance?

Tension pneumothorax is classically characterized by hypotension and hypoxia. On examination, breath sounds are absent on the affected hemothorax and the trachea deviates away from the affected side. The thorax may also be hyperresonant; jugular venous distention and tachycardia may be present.

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Do you have stridor with emphysema?

Respiratory tracts in babies and children are more elastic and significantly narrower than those in adults. Even a slight constriction may lead to respiratory sounds and most often originates in the trachea or pharynx. The cause of stridor in children and babies may be congenital or acquired.

How does smoking cause pneumothorax?

This happens when an air-filled blister (bleb) on the lung ruptures and releases air into the pleural space. People who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop a pneumothorax than those who don’t. Also, the more you smoke, the greater your chances are of having a pneumothorax.

What does Hyperresonance sound like?

Hyperresonant (pneumothorax) said to sound similar to percussion of puffed up cheeks. Normal resonance/ Resonant the sound produced by percussing a normal chest. Impaired resonance (mass, consolidation) lower than normal percussion sounds. Dull (consolidation) similar to percussion of a mass such as a liver.

How do you get Percuss from pneumonia?

  1. Percuss down the back until the normal hyperresonance of the lungs becomes dull over the diaphragm. Then simply have the patient breath in and out deeply while continuing to percuss. The sound should wax and wane.
  2. Loss of tidal percussion: Pleural effusion.

What is stony dull percussion sound?

A “stony dull” or flat percussion note sounds duller than the “standard” dull sound. It resembles the percussion note heard over the thigh and is indicative of a pleural effusion.

Does emphysema cause Hyperresonance?

Thoracic examination reveals a 2:1 increase in anterior to posterior diameter (“barrel chest”), diffuse or focal wheezing, diffusely diminished breath sounds, hyperresonance upon percussion, prolonged expiration, and/or hyperinflation on chest radiographs.

Why do doctors ask patients to say 99?

ADDITIONAL BREATH SOUNDS Consolidation refers to increased density of the lung tissue, due to it being filled with fluid and/or blood or mucus. Ask the patient to say the words: “ninety-nine” while you listen through the stethoscope. Normally the sound of “ninety-nine” will sound very faint and muffled.

What causes a barrel chest?

It occurs because the lungs are chronically overinflated with air, so the rib cage stays partially expanded all the time. This makes breathing less efficient and aggravates shortness of breath. Barrel chest can also relate to a rounding in the shape of the rib cage as some people age.

What causes emphysema in a non smoker?

Genetics – Genetics can also cause non-smokers to have COPD. There is only one genetic deficiency known right now that causes this disease. This inherited deficiency is called Alpha-1 antitrypsin and can lead to lung and liver disease.

Do all smokers get emphysema?

Studies show that 15 to 20 percent of all smokers will develop emphysema in their lifetime. Emphysema is very rare in young people under 40 but the incidence of emphysema steadily increases with age. Women are just as likely to develop the disease as men but more women tend to die from emphysema.

How does smoking cause emphysema?

Cigarette smoking not only destroys lung tissue, it also irritates the airways. This causes inflammation and damage to cilia that line the bronchial tubes. This results in swollen airways, mucus production, and difficulty clearing the airways.

How do you assess lung expansion?

Overall Chest Expansion: Take a tape and encircle chest around the level of nipple. Take measurements at the end of deep inspiration and expiration. Normally, a 2-5″ of chest expansion can be observed. Any lung or pleural disease can give rise to a decrease in overall chest expansion.

What causes tracheal deviation during tension pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax is the most frequently reported cause of tracheal deviation from pressure buildup. This condition happens when excess air builds up in your chest cavity and can’t escape. It’s also known as a collapsed lung. The growth of cancerous tumors, lymph nodes, and glands can also create pressure in your chest.

What causes reduced air entry?

Air or fluid in or around the lungs (such as pneumonia, heart failure, and pleural effusion) Increased thickness of the chest wall. Over-inflation of a part of the lungs (emphysema can cause this) Reduced airflow to part of the lungs.

Where are Bronchovesicular sounds heard?

Bronchovesicular breath sounds are best heard between the first and second intercostal spaces of the anterior chest. Bronchial sounds are best heard over the body of the sternum.

What is Crepitation sound?

Crepitation refers to situations where noises are produced by the rubbing of parts one against the other, as in: Crepitus, a crunching sensation felt in certain medical problems. Rales or crackles, abnormal sounds heard over the lungs with a stethoscope. A mechanism of sound production in grasshoppers during flight.

What causes bronchial breath sounds?

The sounds occur as incoming air opens up closed air spaces in the lungs. As such, a person may notice these sounds as they breathe in. Rhonchi: Rhonchi are harsh, rattling sounds that resemble snoring. They occur as a result of blockage or inflammation of the large airways.

What does subcutaneous emphysema indicate?

One of the main causes of subcutaneous emphysema, along with pneumothorax, is an improperly functioning chest tube. Thus subcutaneous emphysema is often a sign that something is wrong with a chest tube; it may be clogged, clamped, or out of place.

What is the difference between a pneumothorax and a pleural effusion?

Pleural effusion – the buildup of pleural fluid in the pleural cavity. Pneumothorax – the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Which lung sounds are heard over the posterior thorax area?

Bronchovesicular sounds are heard in the posterior chest between the scapulae and in the center part of the anterior chest. Bronchovesicular sounds are softer than bronchial sounds, but have a tubular quality.

What causes chest pain in pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax can be caused by a blunt or penetrating chest injury, certain medical procedures, or damage from underlying lung disease. Or it may occur for no obvious reason. Symptoms usually include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. On some occasions, a collapsed lung can be a life-threatening event.