What is tactile fremitus?

Tactile fremitus refers to the vibrations that can be felt on the chest wall when a person speaks. When the patient vocalizes, sound waves travel through the lungs and the chest wall, creating palpable vibrations. These vibrations can be assessed by placing hands on the patient's thorax while they speak phrases like "ninety-nine." An increase or decrease in tactile fremitus can help indicate various pathologies, such as pulmonary consolidation (increased fremitus) or pleural effusion (decreased fremitus).

The other options relate to different assessments in respiratory or physical examinations but do not directly involve the concept of tactile fremitus. For instance, measuring lung capacity pertains to spirometry and other pulmonary function tests, which evaluate lung volume and airflow rather than tactile sensations. Similarly, assessing lung inflation involves more dynamic measurements rather than the passive assessment provided by tactile fremitus. Finally, examining the lower extremities would focus on a different area of the body entirely and is unrelated to the chest examination techniques that involve tactile fremitus.