Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

Which of the lung lobes cannot be auscultated from the back?

1. Right upper lobe

2. Right middle lobe

3. Left middle lobe

4. Left lower lobe

The correct answer is: Right upper lobe

The right upper lobe, located in the upper portion of the right lung, cannot be completely auscultated from the back because of its anatomical position. The right upper lobe is primarily accessible from the front of the body due to the way the lung lobes are organized. It lies anteriorly and laterally, meaning that to effectively auscultate it, the clinician typically needs to position the patient and the stethoscope in a way that allows access to the front of the chest. In contrast, the right middle lobe is also primarily auscultated from the anterior chest; however, it is important to understand that both the left upper lobe and left lower lobe can be effectively auscultated from the back. Therefore, while the right middle lobe has limited auscultation points from the back, it is not entirely excluded like the right upper lobe. Thus, the right upper lobe is the one lung lobe that is not audible when examining the back, making it the correct answer to the question.