auscultating RLL where are you placing steth?

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Quick question...

When listening for the RLL lung sounds I always thought you listen posterior, to be able to compare and contrast sides.

Looking at a diagram though, perhaps the best place is the right midaxillary line which although I can't find an exact procedure would seem that would be just under the arm on the pt's side?

Somehow I thought back in school there was something about listening to certain sounds on the side but I can't remember which and although I kept the textbooks I can't find anything and my notes from class are long boxed!

THX

[sara_ky]

Coincidentally, I just read about this today in a chapter on assessments. :)

If I understand correctly, my text book identifies the sides of the chest beneath the pt's arms (between the right and left anterior and posterior axillary lines) as the area for auscultating vesicular sounds laterally. Posteriorly, it looks like between the scapular and midaxillary lines would be best for auscultating vesicular sounds in the RLL. I scanned the illustration from my book. Hope it helps.