What should the nurse feel when placing their hands on the posterior lateral chest during a deep breath?

Choice A reason: Pain during chest expansion, often called pleuritic chest pain, is an abnormal finding. It may indicate pleurisy, where the pleural layers are inflamed and rub against each other. A healthy client should be able to take a deep breath comfortably without any stabbing or localized pain sensations during the maneuver. Choice B reason: During the assessment of thoracic expansion, the nurse places their thumbs at the level of T9 or T10. As the client inhales deeply, the nurse's hands should move outward symmetrically. This indicates that both lungs are inflating equally and that the musculoskeletal structures of the chest wall are functioning uniformly on both sides. Choice C reason: Asymmetrical rise and fall of the rib cage is a significant clinical abnormality. It suggests that one lung is not expanding fully, which can be seen in conditions such as massive atelectasis, pneumothorax, or pleural effusion on the affected side. This finding necessitates immediate further diagnostic investigation to determine the underlying cause of the restriction. Choice D reason: A total lack of movement of the rib cage during a deep breath would indicate a profound respiratory failure, severe restrictive disease, or a neurological impairment of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. In a living, breathing client, there should always be a palpable excursion of the thoracic cage during the inspiratory phase.