Question

What are rales?

Accepted Answer

These are the sounds of air trying to pass through fluid in the alveoli. It is a crackling or bubbling sound typically heard on inspiration. There are high-pitched "fine" sounds and low-pitched "coarse" sounds. These often indicate congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, or other fluid in the lungs.

Front	What are rales?
Back	These are the sounds of air trying to pass through fluid in the alveoli. It is a crackling or bubbling sound typically heard on inspiration. There are high-pitched "fine" sounds and low-pitched "coarse" sounds. These often indicate congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, or other fluid in the lungs.

Sounds Fluid Rales Air Pass Alveoli Crackling Bubbling