HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

Tactile fremitus is the sensation of vibration that is felt on the chest wall when a patient speaks. It reflects the sounds generated from the larynx and transmitted through the lung tissues and chest wall during vocalization. When healthcare professionals palpate the chest while a patient says "ninety-nine" or another phrase, they can assess the intensity of these vibrations. An increase in tactile fremitus can indicate areas of consolidation, such as in pneumonia, where lung tissue becomes more solid due to fluid or infection. Conversely, reduced tactile fremitus can occur in conditions like pleural effusion or pneumothorax, where air or fluid inhibits the transmission of sound vibrations.

The other response options do not accurately describe tactile fremitus. Air in subcutaneous tissues refers to subcutaneous emphysema, which can create a different kind of sound or sensation. Moisture in the alveoli pertains to fluid presence in the lungs, but it is not directly related to vibration sensation felt on the chest wall. Blood flow through pulmonary arteries does not involve tactile assessment and is unrelated to the concept of fremitus. Thus, the correct answer highlights the connection between voiced sounds and the tactile sensations perceived through the chest wall.