Final answer:
Stridor is the harsh sound heard during inspiration, indicating a possible laryngeal obstruction which creates a narrow or blocked passage through which air travels, causing a high-pitched wheezing sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shrill, harsh sound heard during inspiration with laryngeal obstruction is known as stridor. This condition is characterized by wheezes or stridor, and it can indicate a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Stridor occurs when the vocal cords, or nearby structures within the larynx, become narrowed or blocked, and can often be heard without a stethoscope. People, including infants, with a laryngeal obstruction may exhibit such symptoms during breathing.
Forced breathing, or hyperpnea, typically involves active manipulation of breathing, but is distinct from the involuntary sound of stridor caused by laryngeal obstructions. While forced breathing can occur during exertion or voluntary actions such as singing, stridor is a sign of an obstruction in the upper airway. Conditions that can lead to stridor include allergies, infections, foreign body inhalation, or trauma to the neck or throat.