Lung sounds

adventitious breath sounds

Crackles/Rales

adventitious breath sounds characterized by discontinuous popping, bubbling, or clicking noises, similar to hair rubbing between fingers

-predom heard in inspiration

Stridor

abnormal, high-pitched, musical breathing sound. It is caused by a blockage (foreign body aspiration) or narrowing in the upper airways. It is more often heard during inspiration, frequently without the aid of a stethoscope.

-primal, desperate, haunting

Rhonchi

continuous low pitched, rattling lung sounds that often resemble snoring. Obstruction or secretions in larger airways are frequent causes. COPD patients

Fine crackles

brief, discontinuous, popping lung sounds that are high-pitched.similar to the sound of wood burning in a fireplace. Soft snoring. Because of fluid in the lungs. In lower right lobe

Course crackles

discontinuous, brief, popping lung sounds. Worse condition. Sounds like slurping the last bit of drink with a straw. louder, lower in pitch and last longer. They have also been described as a bubbling sound. Because of fluid in the lungs. In the right middle lobe

wheezes

adventitious lung sounds that are continuous with a musical quality. Sounds like a rumbling stomach. In the right upper lobe.

plural friction rub

They are produced because two inflamed surfaces are sliding by one another, such as in pleurisy. discontinuous or continuous, creaking or grating sounds. In left lower lobe.

-sounds like anti-rollback system engaged during the lift hill climb in rollercoasters