A patient with pleuritis has been admitted to the hospital and complains of pain with breathing.Upon auscultation, the nurse notes coarse, low-pitched sounds with a grating quality and documents them as:

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Coarse, low-pitched sounds with a grating quality are characteristic of a friction rub, which is commonly heard in patients with pleuritis. Stridor is a high-pitched, crowing sound heard with inspiration and indicates upper airway obstruction. Crackles are fine, crackling sounds heard with inspiration and can indicate fluid in the lungs. Wheezing is a high-pitched, musical sound heard with expiration and can indicate narrowing of the airways.

A Patient with Pleuritis Has Been Admitted to the Hospital