Which characteristic describes the breath sounds associated with lower airway obstruction?

Wheezing is characterized by a high-pitched, whistling sound that occurs during breathing, particularly when air flows through narrowed airways. This narrowing can be due to various factors such as inflammation, bronchoconstriction, or the presence of excess mucus, all of which are common in lower airway obstruction scenarios, as seen in conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

When lower airways are obstructed, the turbulence of airflow creates this specific sound as air is forced through tighter passages, making wheezing a key indicator of such obstructions.

On the other hand, clear breath sounds typically indicate open airways and normal lung function, while absent breath sounds suggest a more severe problem, such as significant lung collapse or very poor air movement, which would not directly indicate the type of obstruction described. Rhonchi, though they can occur alongside lower airway issues, are more often described as low-pitched and associated with fluid in larger airways rather than directly signifying the presence of wheezing related to narrow airway obstruction.