pleuropericardial rub /-per′ikär″dē·əl/ [Gk, pleura + peri, around, kardia, heart; ME, rubben, to scrape] , an abnormal coarse, grating sound heard on auscultation of the lungs during late inspiration and early expiration. It occurs when the visceral and parietal pleural surfaces rub against each other. The sound is not affected by coughing. A pleuropericardial rub indicates primary inflammatory, neoplastic, or traumatic pleural disease or inflammation secondary to infection or neoplasm. Also called pleural friction rub. See also breath sound, Kussmaul breathing, rhonchus, wheeze.
