Auscultation of the lungs is used to determine airway patency.

• A. False; it assesses only heart sounds
• B. True; it helps assess airway patency
• C. It should be avoided in pediatric assessments
• D. It replaces chest X-ray

Answer: (B)

Auscultation of the lungs is a bedside way to judge how air moves through the airways. Airway patency means the passages are open enough for air to flow during breathing. By listening to the breath sounds across all lung zones, you can tell if air is moving freely or if there are signs of obstruction. Clear, equal breath sounds suggest patent airways, while reduced or absent sounds indicate possible obstruction or collapse. Adventitious sounds like wheezes, rhonchi, or stridor point to partial or dynamic narrowing or secretions affecting patency. This technique provides real-time information about ventilation and is not limited to heart sounds; it is appropriate in all ages, including pediatrics, and it does not replace imaging like chest X-ray, which shows structure rather than immediate airflow.