Final answer:
In medical terminology, the root 'rhonch-' refers to a snoring or whistling sound heard in obstructed airways, commonly associated with respiratory system conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term rhonchus is used in medicine, specifically in the field of respiratory health. The root rhonch- indicates a medical term often associated with the respiratory system and refers to a whistling or snoring sound heard during auscultation of the chest when air channels are partly obstructed. These sounds can suggest various respiratory conditions, including bronchitis or obstructive pulmonary disease. Notably, rhonch- is one of the less common spellings used to denote the 'r' sound in medical terminology, with being the most common and being the second most common, followed by and .