The Physical Examination in Cardiovascular Disease:The Lungs

Apnea
Apnea, apnoea, or apnœa (Greek απνοια, from α-, privative, πνεειν, to breathe) is a technical term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged.

Cheyne-Stokes Respirations
This is a pattern of breathing with a crescendo – decrescendo variation in tidal volume separated by periods of central apnea or hypopnea.

Crackles
Crackles, also referred to as rales, are nonmusical discontinuous sounds that resemble the sound of velcro being torn apart. Crackles are caused by the opening of collapsed airways. Crackles may be either coarse or fine.

Pulmonary Edema
This is accumulation of fluid in the lung manifested on physical examination by rales.

Rales
Rales, also referred to as crackles, are nonmusical discontinuous sounds that resemble the sound of velcro being torn apart. Rales are caused by the opening of collapsed airways. Rales may be either coarse or fine.