gag reflex
Involuntary choking response
The gag reflex is the involuntary contraction at the back of the throat triggered when something touches certain areas—a protective mechanism against choking or swallowing unwanted objects.
Dentists and doctors routinely work around patients' gag reflexes.
The phrase extends figuratively to visceral disgust: His hypocrisy triggers my gag reflex.
Of the throat cavity
- uvulaSoft palate pendant
- palateOral cavity ceiling
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
- throatNeck's inner passage
tonsils · swallowing · sensory · stimulus · hypersensitive · suppression · desensitization · trigger point
Forcible prevention or concealment
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- endoscopyInternal organ examination
- oral examSpoken academic assessment
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
dental work · sedation · laryngoscopy · tongue depressor · throat swab · hypersensitivity · dysphagia
Mild stomach disturbance
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- upset stomachGastrointestinal distress
- motion sicknessNausea from perceived movement
- morning sicknessPregnancy-related nausea
seasickness · malaise · dizziness · lightheadedness · discomfort · vomiting · emesis · regurgitation
Heaving without expelling
- heavingMoving up and down
- chokingBlocked airway condition
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
involuntary · contraction · dry heave · wretching · uncontrollable · automatic · trigger · sensitivity
Intense physical disgust
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- squeamishnessExcessive sensitivity to unpleasantness
distaste · visceral reaction · recoil · gross · nauseating · repulsive · offensive · stomach-churning
Item where it shouldn't be
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- defense mechanismUnconscious self-protective mental process
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- expulsionForced permanent removal
pharyngeal
Of the throat cavity
- uvulaSoft palate pendant
- palateOral cavity ceiling
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
throat · tonsils · swallowing · sensory · stimulus · hypersensitive · suppression · desensitization · trigger point · soft palate
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- endoscopyInternal organ examination
- oral examSpoken academic assessment
dental work · anesthesia · sedation · laryngoscopy · tongue depressor · throat swab · hypersensitivity · dysphagia
queasiness
Mild stomach disturbance
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- upset stomachGastrointestinal distress
- motion sicknessNausea from perceived movement
morning sickness · seasickness · malaise · dizziness · lightheadedness · discomfort · vomiting · emesis · regurgitation · biliousness
retching
Heaving without expelling
convulsion · involuntary · contraction · dry heave · wretching · uncontrollable · automatic · trigger · sensitivity
revulsion
Intense physical disgust
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
squeamishness · distaste · visceral reaction · recoil · gross · nauseating · repulsive · offensive · stomach-churning · sickening
foreign object
Item where it shouldn't be
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- defense mechanismUnconscious self-protective mental process
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- body reactionssweating, blushing, shiver, goosebumps, twitch
- body responsesfight, flight, shivering, freeze, goosebumps
- instinctsinstinct, survival instinct, survival instincts, maternal instinct, gut instinct
- nauseaqueasiness, queasy feeling, queasy stomach, sick feeling, upset stomach
- reflexesknee jerk, knee-jerk, clonus, blink, flinch
- automatic processesbreathing, heartbeat, digestion, blinking, immune response