Vocal fremitus is best described as?

Vocal fremitus is best described as voice vibrations that are transmitted through the bronchopulmonary system and felt on the chest wall. When a person speaks, sound waves travel through the tracheobronchial tree and cause vibrations in the lung tissue and chest wall. This can be assessed by placing the hands on a patient’s back or chest while they speak, allowing the clinician to feel the intensity of these vibrations.

The presence and quality of vocal fremitus can provide valuable diagnostic information; for example, increased fremitus may indicate lung consolidation or pneumonia, while decreased fremitus may suggest conditions such as pleural effusion or pneumothorax. Understanding this assessment is crucial for clinicians as it assists in evaluating respiratory health.