What causes increased tactile fremitus?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Lung consolidation, where air in healthy lung is replaced with inflammatory exudate, blood, pus, or cells
• C. Pleural effusion
• D. Normal lungs with deep inspiration

Answer: (B)

Tactile fremitus reflects how well voice vibrations travel through the thorax. When the lung tissue becomes denser—such as in consolidation, where air is replaced by inflammatory exudate, blood, pus, or cells—the vibrations transmit more efficiently to the chest wall, making fremitus feel stronger. This is why consolidation increases tactile fremitus. In contrast, conditions that add air or fluid between the lung and chest wall, like a pneumothorax or a pleural effusion, dampen those vibrations and reduce fremitus. Normal lungs with deep inspiration contain more air, which also dampens vibration transmission, so fremitus is not increased.