A crackling or popping sound, especially the sound made by broken bones rubbing together, joints moving, or air in body tissues.
From Latin 'crepitus' (a crackling noise), related to 'crepare' (to crack or break). Used in medical Latin for centuries to describe abnormal body sounds.
When a doctor hears joint crepitus, they're literally listening to your cartilage breaking down—some athletes have knees that sound like Rice Krispies cereal, and this sound can tell doctors how serious cartilage damage is.
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