The noise made by a moribund person is called what?

The noise made by a moribund person is called what?

• A. Death Rattle
• B. Death Struggle
• C. Cadaveric Spasm
• D. Necrosis

Answer: (A)

The death rattle is the noise heard as a person nears death. It happens when secretions build up in the throat and upper airway because swallowing and clearing mucus become less effective, and the airway reflexes weaken. This results in a rattling or gurgling sound that may be audible to others, even though the person is not distressed by it. It’s a common sign in end-of-life care and reflects advancing decline in airway clearance. Other terms don’t fit: a death struggle refers to visible physical effort during dying, cadaveric spasm is an instantaneous rigidity that can occur at the moment of death, and necrosis is tissue death. Therefore, the noise described is best called the death rattle.

The death rattle is the noise heard as a person nears death. It happens when secretions build up in the throat and upper airway because swallowing and clearing mucus become less effective, and the airway reflexes weaken. This results in a rattling or gurgling sound that may be audible to others, even though the person is not distressed by it. It’s a common sign in end-of-life care and reflects advancing decline in airway clearance.

Other terms don’t fit: a death struggle refers to visible physical effort during dying, cadaveric spasm is an instantaneous rigidity that can occur at the moment of death, and necrosis is tissue death. Therefore, the noise described is best called the death rattle.