Essential Lung Sounds

Coarse Crackles (Rales)

Coarse crackles are also short, popping breath sounds. Compared to fine crackles they have a lower pitch but higher sound volume. Coarse crackles are usually longer in time.

Listen

Visualize

Observe

In this example, a patient has chronic bronchitis. Course crackles are heard over most of the anterior and posterior chest walls. Use the slider to reveal a depiction of the lungs where these course crackles originate.

Authored by Diane Wrigley, PA. Medically reviewed by Dr. Barbara Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN.