cough reflex
Involuntary airway clearance
The cough reflex is the body's automatic response to clear the airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign objects.
When receptors in the throat or lungs detect something that shouldn't be there, they trigger an involuntary expulsion of air.
Doctors test the cough reflex to assess airway protection in patients with swallowing difficulties or reduced consciousness.
- throatNeck's inner passage
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- wheezeWhistling labored breath
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- tickleTouch provoking involuntary laughter
tickle in throat · irritation · bronchial · mucus · phlegm · spasm · larynx · airway · involuntary · hack · bark · splutter · respiratory · trachea · swallow · sneeze · expel · irritant
- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- reflexesknee jerk, knee-jerk, clonus, blink, flinch
- coughshack, hacking, tussis, croup, pertussis
- brainstembrainstem, brain stem, medulla, medulla oblongata, pons
- Lung Signsbreath sounds, wheezing, crackles, stridor, wheeze
cough reflexswallowing
Ingesting via throat muscles
gag reflex · aspiration · deglutition · sneeze reflex · inspiration
cough, reflex, coughs, coughed, coughing, reflexes, reflexive, reflexively, reflexivity