How Do You Spell CREPITANT RALE?

1. Crepitant rale is a medical term that refers to a specific type of abnormal lung sound heard during auscultation, which is the process of listening to the internal sounds of the body using a stethoscope. The term is primarily used in the field of pulmonology and respiratory medicine.

   A crepitant rale is characterized by a fine crackling or popping sound that occurs during inspiration, when the patient takes a breath in. The sound is produced when the small airways and alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs) become filled with fluid or are collapsed due to various conditions. This can include pulmonary edema, pneumonia, respiratory infections, or conditions that cause the alveoli to collapse, such as atelectasis or pulmonary fibrosis.

   The crepitant rale sound is produced as air passes through the collapsed or fluid-filled lung tissue, causing the microscopic air sacs to open suddenly. The crackling sound is often described as similar to the sound produced by rubbing strands of hair together or squeezing the bristles of a brush.

   Medical professionals use the presence or absence of crepitant rales, along with other clinical findings, to help diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions. Treatment for the underlying cause of crepitant rales may involve addressing the fluid accumulation, providing appropriate antibiotics or medications, or even supportive measures such as oxygen therapy or respiratory support.

2. A fine bubbling or crackling sound produced by the presence of a very thin secretion in the smaller bronchial tubes.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CREPITANT RALE

The phrase "crepitant rale" is a medical term used to describe a specific type of abnormal sound heard during a physical examination of the chest.

The term "rale" refers to any abnormal breath sound heard during auscultation (listening with a stethoscope). It is derived from the French word "rale" which means "rattle" or "rattle in the throat".

"Crepitant" is an adjective derived from the Latin word "crepitans" which means "crackling" or "crepitating". It is often used to describe a specific type of rale that sounds like crackles or bubbling noises.

Therefore, "crepitant rale" refers to a crackling or bubbling sound heard during the examination of the chest, typically associated with certain lung conditions such as pneumonia or pulmonary edema.