The sounds of breathing transmitted to a stethoscope applied to the chest. Normal breath sounds are described as vesicular. Abnormal sounds may be heard when there is increased fluid in the lungs or fibrosis (crepitation or crackles), when there is bronchospasm (rhonchi or wheezes), or when the lung is airless (consolidated – bronchial breathing). Breath sounds are absent in people with pleural effusion, PNEUMOTHORAX, or after PNEUMONECTOMY.