What is the term for high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration?

The term for high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration is wheezing. Wheezing occurs when airflow is restricted in the small airways of the lungs, typically due to conditions like asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory ailments that cause narrowing of these passages. The sound is a result of turbulent airflow as air passes through these constricted areas, creating a characteristic musical or whistling quality.

In contrast, crackles are described as moist, crackling sounds often associated with fluid in the lungs, stridor is a harsh, high-pitched sound mainly heard during inspiration due to upper airway obstruction, and rhonchi are low-pitched, snoring-like sounds produced by secretions in larger airways. Each of these other terms describes different respiratory sounds and conditions, highlighting the distinct nature of wheezing for high-pitched, expiratory sounds.