Final answer:
Lung sounds heard outside of the airway can include abnormal noises like wheezing and crepitation, often associated with diseases like asthma and pneumonia. These sounds indicate altered airflow and are typically evaluated through auscultation, radiographs, and sputum samples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of lung sounds that are heard "outside of the airway" typically include abnormal noises such as wheezing, crackling, and crepitation. These sounds are heard during a physical examination using a stethoscope, a process known as auscultation. Wheezing often suggests narrowed airways, which can be seen in conditions like asthma. Crackling, or crepitation, may indicate fluid in the lungs, seen in pneumonia or heart failure. These abnormal lung sounds are typically heard when the lungs are affected by disease or obstruction, leading to altered airflow and resulting in the production of these distinctive sounds.For instance, a healthcare provider may hear crackling in a patient with pneumonia, as in the case of Barbara mentioned in one of the scenarios. Crepitation, similar to what was heard in both Marsha and Barbara's cases, usually indicates the presence of fluid or mucus in the airways. This symptom often warrants further investigation through radiographic imaging and laboratory testing, such as sputum samples and chest radiographs, to determine the underlying condition causing these sounds.