Crackles are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises that may be made by one or both lungs of a human or animal [2] with a respiratory disease during inhalation, and occasionally during exhalation.

Jan 6, 2025 · Your doctor is more likely to hear crackles when you’re breathing in, but they may happen when you breathe out, too. Rales happen when your airway snaps open as you breathe in.

Lung sounds are either normal (vesicular) or abnormal. Abnormal lung sounds include rhonchi, wheezing, stridor, crackles (rales) and pleural rub.

On this page we provide a definition of crackles, including its clinical significance. We then compare fine and coarse crackles with audio recordings and text.

Crackles are abnormal lung sounds characterized by discontinuous clicking or rattling sounds. Crackles can sound like salt dropped onto a hot pan or like cellophane being crumpled or like Velcro being …

Jun 4, 2021 · Also called crackles, rales are small rattling, clicking or bubbling sounds that occur when you inhale. Caused by airflow traveling through narrowed airways, wheezing is a high-pitched sound.

Dec 14, 2025 · Learn what crackles are, why they occur, and how to assess them to better identify respiratory conditions during patient evaluation.

May 13, 2025 · Excess fluid in your lungs can cause bibasilar crackles. Learn more about the conditions that may cause this.

Nov 24, 2023 · Crackles occur as a result of small airways suddenly snapping open. They may indicate that a person’s lungs have fluid inside them or are not inflating correctly.

Aug 5, 2025 · Among these, “crackles” are a specific type of lung sound that can indicate underlying issues. This article will focus on fine crackles, exploring what they are and their clinical importance.