What it means
An adventitious (abnormal) lung sound made as air passes through fluid or mucus in the larger airways. Coarse crackles are louder, lower and longer than fine crackles, which sound like strands of hair rubbed together near the ear. They are heard in conditions such as pneumonianoo-MOHN-yuhAn infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.pneum/o lung, air-ia conditionFull entry , bronchitis and pulmonary edemaPUL-muh-nair-ee ih-DEE-muhA buildup of fluid in the air sacs and tissues of the lungs.pulmon/o lung-ary having to do withedema swelling with fluidFull entry , and may change after the client coughs.
For the nurse
Note where in the lungs the sound is heard and whether it clears with coughing, and report new or spreading crackles with the client's breathing rate and oxygen saturation.
At a glance
| Also written | coarse crackles |
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Related terms
pulmonary edema
A buildup of fluid in the air sacs and tissues of the lungs.
pneumonia
An infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.
auscultation
Listening to the sounds inside the body, usually with a stethoscope.