On lung examination, which finding is typical of pneumothorax?

• A. Normal breath sounds
• B. Reduced breath sounds
• C. Wheezing
• D. Stridor

Answer: (B)

Pneumothorax introduces air into the pleural space, collapsing part of the lung and reducing ventilation to that region. Because less air is moving through the airways there, breath sounds on the affected side are decreased or absent. This is the typical lung exam finding you’d expect.

Normal breath sounds would suggest the lung region remains ventilated, which isn’t the case with a pneumothorax. Wheezing points to obstructed airways, and stridor indicates an upper airway obstruction—neither fits the pattern of a collapsed lung segment.