sonorous rhonchussibilant rhonchus, pl. rhonchi An added sound with a musical pitch occurring during inspiration or expiration, heard on auscultation of the chest and caused by air passing through bronchi that are narrowed by inflammation, spasm of smooth muscle, or presence of mucus in the lumen; if low-pitched, it is called sonorous rhonchus; if high-pitched, with a whistling or squeaky quality, sibilant rhonchus [L. fr. G. rhenchos, a snoring]
