Anterior Chest Assessment

  • Note the shape and configuration of the chest wall
  • Assess the quality of respirations
  • Normal breathing is automatic and effortless, regular and even and produces no noise
  • Look for any abnormalities such as retraction or bulging of the interspaces in the rib cage, use of accessory muscles, such as the abdominal or neck muscles
  • Palpate the anterior chest checking for symmetry by placing your hands on the anterolateral wall with the thumbs along the costal margin and pointing toward the xiphoid process
  • With a deep breath and smooth chest expansion your thumbs should move apart symmetrically
  • Limitations in thoracic expansion is easier to detect on the anterior chest because greater range of motion exists with breathing anteriorly
  • Auscultate the lung fields over the anterior chest from the apices in the supraclavicular areas down to the sixth rib
  • Move from side to side as you move downward and listen for one full breath in each location
  • Click on the 'Breath Sounds' link to see where you would auscultate and what you would hear