(hiccup) A spasm of the diaphragm that causes a sudden inhalation followed by rapid closure of the glottis which produces a sound.

(hiccups) Have you ever wondered what is happening when you hiccup? There are two parts to a hiccup. The first is an involuntary movement of your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle at the base of your lungs. It is the main muscle used for breathing. The second part of a hiccup is a quick closing of your vocal cords. This is what causes the "hic" sound you make. Hiccups can start and stop for no obvious reason. But they often happen when something irritates your diaphragm, such as: Eating too quickly; Eating too much; Eating hot or spicy foods; Drinking alcohol; Drinking carbonated drinks; Diseases that irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm; Feeling nervous or excited; A bloated stomach; Certain medicines; Abdominal surgery; Metabolic disorders; Central nervous system disorders. Hiccups usually go away on their own after a few minutes. You have probably heard different suggestions about how to cure hiccups. There is no proof that they work, but they are not harmful, so you could try them. They include: Breathing into a paper bag; Drinking or sipping a glass of cold water; Holding your breath; Gargling with ice water. Some people have chronic hiccups. This means that the hiccups last more than a few days or keep coming back. Chronic hiccups can interfere with your sleep, eating, drinking, and talking. If you have chronic hiccups, contact your health care provider. If you have a condition that is causing the hiccups, treating that condition may help. Otherwise, treatment options include medicines, surgery, and other procedures.

An involuntary contraction of the diaphragm against closed vocal cords, producing the "hic" sound.

(hiccups) A disorder characterized by repeated gulp sounds that result from an involuntary opening and closing of the glottis. This is attributed to a spasm of the diaphragm.

Hiccups are repeated involuntary spasms of the diaphragm followed by sudden closure of the glottis, which checks the inflow of air and causes the characteristic sound. Transient episodes are very common. Persistent (> 2 days) and intractable (> 1 month) hiccups are uncommon but quite distressing.

The term hiccup derives from the sound of the event; the alternative spelling hiccough erroneously implies an association with respiratory reflexes. Brief episodes of hiccups, which often induce annoyance in patients and merriment in observers, are a common part of life.

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm - the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound.

A hiccup is an abrupt contraction of the inspiratory muscles that repeats several times per minute. The resultant sudden rush of air into the lungs causes the glottis to close, creating a distinctive "hic" sound.

Hiccup, spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm (the muscular partition separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity) which causes a sudden intake of breath that is involuntarily cut off by closure of the glottis (the opening between the vocal cords), thus producing a characteristic s...