Stridor is defined as which description?

• A. Lower airway noise on EXHALE - wheeze sound
• B. Upper airway noise on INHALE - high pitched sound
• C. Snoring is positional/neuro impairment
• D. Grunting

Answer: (B)

Stridor is a high-pitched, noisy breath sound produced by turbulent airflow through a narrowed upper airway, such as the larynx or trachea, and is typically heard during inspiration. This makes the description of an upper airway noise on inhalation the best fit. It signals obstruction or narrowing above the thoracic inlet. This differs from a wheeze, which comes from lower airway narrowing and is usually heard during expiration; grunting reflects distress from poor alveolar gas exchange, and snoring comes from soft tissue vibration rather than a classic upper airway obstruction.