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Hiccups

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Glottis in throat and lungs in chest above diaphragm, showing diaphragm spasm that causes hiccups, with detail of open glottis and closed glottis.

Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The spasm causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closing of the vocal cords (glottis). This closing causes the sound of the hiccup.

Current as of: August 6, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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