Basics of Lung Sounds

Crackles - Coarse (Rales) Sounds

Signup Now. Unlock lessons and more.

Coarse crackles are discontinuous, brief, popping lung sounds. Compared to fine crackles they are louder, lower in pitch and last longer. They have also been described as a bubbling sound. You can simulate this sound by rolling strands of hair between your fingers near your ear.

play
pause

The recommended auscultation position for the stethoscope is the Chest wall position. For this sound, use stethoscope's Diaphragm.

maneuver

The recommended patient position is Seated

Waveform

This waveform plots sound amplitude on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis.

Skin and Ribs

Blended View

Lungs

Move slider to reveal lungs

Lessons

1	Vesicular - Normal
2	Crackles - Fine (Rales)
3	Crackles - Coarse (Rales)
4	Wheeze
5	Rhonchi - Low Pitched Wheezes
6	Bronchial
7	Pleural Rubs
8	Bronchovesicular

Practice Drill

Listening Tips
A synopsis of important sound features and timing for this abnormality.
Course crackles are discontinuous, brief, popping sounds. Similar to the sound of a hook and loop fastener being pulled apart. They have also been described as a bubbling sound. More common during inspiration.

CaseID	73
CourseID	201
CourseCaseOrder	3
ID	60