A high-pitched sound indicating partial upper airway obstruction is called what?

• A. Wheeze
• B. Rales
• C. Rhonchi
• D. Stridor

Answer: (D)

A high-pitched, squeaky sound heard as air moves through a narrowed upper airway is stridor. This telltale sound comes from turbulence in the larynx or trachea, so it points to partial obstruction at the top of the airway. It’s often noticeable during inspiration and can be heard without a stethoscope, signaling that the upper airway is compromised and may worsen quickly.

Wheezes, in contrast, come from narrowed lower airways (like bronchospasm) and tend to be musical and heard mainly on exhalation. Rales crackles come from fluid or collapse in the tiny airways and alveoli, heard more with inspiration. Rhonchi are coarse, rattling sounds from secretions in larger airways. The presence of a high-pitched inspiratory sound specifically indicates stridor and upper airway obstruction.