crackle

crackle /crack·le/ (krak´'l) rale.

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crackle,

a common, abnormal respiratory sound consisting of discontinuous bubbling noises heard on auscultation of the chest during inspiration. Fine crackles have a popping sound produced by air entering distal bronchioles or alveoli that contain serous secretions, as in congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or early tuberculosis. Coarse crackles may originate in the larger bronchi or trachea and have a lower pitch. Crackles are not cleared by coughing. Formerly called rale. Compare rhonchus, wheeze. See also coarse crackle.

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rale [rahl]

a discontinuous sound heard on auscultation, primarily during inhalation; called also crackle.

crackling rale subcrepitant rale.

crepitant rale a fine sound like that of rubbing a hair between the fingers or by particles of salt thrown on fire; heard at the end of inhalation. Called also crepitus.

dry rale a fine sound associated with any of various interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

moist rale one heard over fluid in the bronchial tubes.

subcrepitant rale a fine moist rale heard over liquid in the smaller tubes; called also crackling rale.