Rhonchi indicate ____________ in the airway and suggest that a patient should be helped to cough or that secretions should be suctioned.

Rhonchi are low-pitched, rattling sounds typically heard during expiration when listening to lung sounds. They are often associated with the presence of secretions, such as fluid or mucus, in the airway. These sounds indicate that the airflow is being disrupted by these secretions, which are likely causing a partial obstruction in the larger airways.

The presence of rhonchi suggests that the patient may have accumulated mucus due to various conditions, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, and that intervention is required to clear the secretions. Helping the patient to cough or performing suctioning can aid in removing these obstructions, potentially improving airflow and respiratory function.

The other options represent different mechanisms affecting the airway: obstruction or blockage could refer to various causes beyond mucus; inflammation or irritation may produce wheezing rather than rhonchi; and airway constriction or spasm generally leads to high-pitched sounds known as wheezes. Thus, while those conditions can affect respiration, they do not specifically relate to the distinct quality of sound produced by rhonchi, which directly points to the presence of fluid or mucus in the airway.