Consolidation in pneumonia typically causes ___ percussion over the affected area and ___ breath sounds.

In the context of pneumonia, the presence of consolidation in lung tissue impacts both the physical examination findings of percussion and auscultation. When consolidation occurs, it changes the density of the lung tissue due to fluid, inflammatory cells, and other materials in the alveoli.

The correct response notes that percussion over the affected area will yield dullness. This is due to the denser, consolidated lung tissue, which transmits sound differently than aerated lung tissue, which normally produces a more resonant sound. Dullness on percussion indicates that the area no longer contains air but rather is filled with fluid or solid material, which is consistent with pneumonia.

Furthermore, bronchial breath sounds may be noted on the auscultation of the lung area affected by pneumonia. Normally, breath sounds in healthy lung tissue are vesicular—soft and low-pitched—over peripheral lung areas. However, over areas of consolidation, bronchial breath sounds become more pronounced and may be heard where they shouldn't typically be present. This shift occurs because the consolidation allows for better transmission of the sounds produced by air moving through larger airways into the affected areas.

Thus, noting the effects of pneumonia on both percussion and breath sounds provides crucial insight into the presence and extent of lung involvement