Final answer:
The true statement about bronchovesicular breath sounds is that they are expected near the major airways, as these sounds are normal and heard around the central thorax. They differ from bronchial sounds in quality, being moderate in both pitch and intensity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement about bronchovesicular breath sounds is that they are expected near the major airways. These sounds are considered normal and are typically heard around the central part of the thorax, especially between the scapulae and around the sternum. They are a mix of the louder, harsher bronchial sounds emanating from the large airways and the softer vesicular sounds from the alveolar regions. Unlike bronchial breath sounds, which are high-pitched and loud, indicative of air moving through the trachea, bronchovesicular sounds are moderate in pitch and intensity. They arise from both air movement in bronchial tubes (larger passageways) and the smaller bronchioles near the lung tissue where some gas exchange occurs. These sounds are not usually pathological nor are they musical in quality, which would typically indicate an abnormality such as wheezing or stridor. Additionally, bronchovesicular sounds are not essentially similar to bronchial sounds except they are shorter in duration; they actually have a distinct intermediate quality in both duration and intensity.
Bronchovesicular breath sounds are heard in the areas where major airways are present, such as the main bronchi and the upper anterior chest. They can be heard between the first and second intercostal spaces along the sternum as well as between the scapulae. These breath sounds have a mixed quality, combining characteristics of both bronchial and vesicular breath sounds. So,
the correct answer is C) expected near the major airways.