Fremitus is best described as what?

• A. A measure of chest wall expansion
• B. Palpable vibration on the chest wall when talking
• C. A sound heard over the chest with a stethoscope
• D. Diminished breath sounds

Answer: (B)

Fremitus is the palpable vibration felt on the chest wall when the patient talks. This tactile vibration is assessed by placing the hand on the chest and having the patient vocalize, with normal fremitus being symmetric on both sides. Dense lung tissue, as in pneumonia, conducts vibrations better, so fremitus increases there. Conversely, air or fluid in the pleural space dampens vibrations, so fremitus decreases or is absent with conditions like pneumothorax or pleural effusion. The other options describe different findings: chest wall expansion is a related assessment of movement, auscultation reveals sounds heard with a stethoscope, and diminished breath sounds are a separate auscultatory finding rather than the tactile vibration assessed with fremitus.