Vocal Fremitus
- Vocal cords create vibrations in the tracheobronchial tree
- Vibrations can be felt through the lungs and chest wall
- Tactile fremitus is assessed by placing palms on the chest wall
- Increase in tactile fremitus indicates denser or inflamed lung tissue
- Decrease in tactile fremitus suggests air or fluid in pleural spaces or decreased lung tissue density
Pleural Fremitus
- Palpable vibration of the thorax wall caused by friction between pleura
- Auditory analog is pleural friction rub
Dental Fremitus
- Fremitus occurs when teeth move
- Assessed by feeling and looking at teeth when mouth is opened and closed
Periodontal Fremitus
- Occurs in alveolar bones due to trauma from occlusion
- Teeth rubbing against expanded socket walls causes fremitus
- Severity of periodontal disease can be determined through fremitus test
Rhonchal Fremitus
- Palpable vibration produced during breathing
- Caused by partial airway obstruction
- Obstruction can be due to mucus, bronchial hyperreactivity, or tumors
- Auditory analog is rhonchus
Fremitus is a vibration transmitted through the body. In common medical usage, it usually refers to assessment of the lungs by either the vibration intensity felt on the chest wall (tactile fremitus) and/or heard by a stethoscope on the chest wall with certain spoken words (vocal fremitus), although there are several other types.
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