Vomiting

This is the process during which the contents of the stomach are expelled into the environment through the esophagus and mouth. It is a complex reflex protective reaction. Vomiting is caused by irritation of the tongue root, palate, stomach, and other abdominal organs, as well as by chemical substances that enter the blood and irritate the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata. During vomiting, the anti-peristaltic movements of the stomach and duodenum are greatly intensified. Vomiting can be caused by conditioned reflexes, strong emotional stimuli, unpleasant odors. Vomiting is not a disease, it is a symptom with many causes: food poisoning, seasickness, vertigo, head injuries, gallbladder diseases, migraines, etc.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė