Final answer:
The coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways are known as 1) rhonchi.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rhonchi are sounds thatresult from the air passing through an airway obstructed by thickened mucus, as often seen in conditions causing chronic cough, such as bronchitis. Rhonchi are distinguished from other respiratory sounds like wheezes, which are high-pitched and associated with narrowed airways in conditions like asthma; crackles, which are short, discontinuous sounds heard more commonly in heart failure or pneumonia; and stridor, which is a harsh, high-pitched sound most notable during inspiration and is associated with upper airway obstruction.
Shortness of breath, hoarseness, pain with swallowing, and a productive cough with mucus are common respiratory symptoms that might accompany rhonchi. In clinical practice, the presence of rhonchi could suggest chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, or other types of respiratory infections that provoke inflammation and mucus production in the bronchial tubes.
Hence, the correct answer is Option 1.