Vomiting


'''Vomiting''' (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth. It is a mechanism for expelling ingested poisons. The act may also be triggered by motion sickness, which is caused by overstimulation of the labyrinthine canals of the ear, which mimics food poisoning. The sight of decayed food, a terrible injury or other people vomiting can also trigger an emetic response. Vomiting sometimes also occurs in response to an emotional trauma, or after a concussion; in the latter case it can indicate that the head injury is moderate or severe and requires immediate medical attention. Vomiting can also be induced with an emetic or prevented with an antiemetic. The act may also be triggered intentionally by stimulating the constrictor muscle located in the back of the throat with a finger or other object. It may be triggered voluntarily due to a psychological disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia or to remove a poison in case such has been ingested. (Note: Some poisons should not be vomited as they may be more toxic when inhaled. Always contact a Poison Control center before inducing vomiting.) The constrictor muscle can also function to initiate vomiting in order to expel something stuck in the throat, like a piece of meat. The feeling that one is about to vomit is called nausea. Nausea usually, but not always, precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur after surgery due to the anesthetics employed or surgical trauma to the gastrointestinal system (e.g., appendectomy) or blood collecting in the stomach (e.g., tonsillectomy). See Postoperative nausea and vomiting. Most people try to contain their vomit by vomiting into a sink, toilet, or trash can. On airplanes and boats, special bags are supplied for sick passengers to vomit into. Alternatively, a special disposable bag is available containing absorbent material that solidifies the vomit quickly, making it convenient and safe to keep (leakproof, puncture resistant, odorless) until there is an opportunity to dispose of it conveniently.

Reflex

Vomiting is co-ordinated in the vomiting center in the medulla. Receptors on the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain represent a chemoreceptor trigger zone, stimulation of which can lead to vomiting. The chemoreceptor zone lies outside the blood-brain barrier, and can therefore be stimulated by blood-borne drugs which can stimulate vomiting, or inhibit it. The vomiting act encompasses:

Content

Examination of the micro-fungal content of vomit can be a means of indentifying illness. Also known as vomitus, vomit contains a high concentration of hydronium and is thus strongly acidic. Bile can enter the vomit during subsequent heaves due to duodenal contraction if the vomiting is severe. The potential physiological complications associated with vomiting are mainly metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia.

Vomiting in other animals

Whales vomit regularly (every 7 to 10 days) as a means of the ordinary digestive process, to expel inedible things they have swallowed. The domestic cat is well known for its tendency to vomit, particularly when attempting to dislodge hairballs from its throat or upper gastrointestinal tract. Dogs also vomit often (frequently after eating grass) and are also known for eating their own vomit, a fact even cited in the Bible. Some adult birds regurgitate food to feed their young, triggered by a feather or a beak of their young. The food can be either incompletely digested or partially predigested, depending on the species. Some bird species may also use regurgitation as a form of defense, vomiting when wounded or molested. When an intruder or a predator comes near a fulmar on its nest, the bird vomits oil up to 3 feet at the enemy. Some large mammals, including horses, rarely vomit. Many rodents lack the ability to vomit, which is why mice and rats are easily killed by poisoning.

Emetics

An emetic, such as Syrup of Ipecac, is a substance that induces vomiting when administered orally or by injection. An emetic is used medically where a substance (typically poison) has been ingested and must be expelled from the body immediately. Inducing vomiting can remove the substance before it is absorbed into the body.

Antiemetics

An antiemetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. Antiemetics are typically used to treat motion sickness and the side effects of some opioid analgesics and chemotherapy directed against cancer.

Euphemisms

As with other physiological processes involving body wastes, vomiting has taboo aspects. This is shown by the large number of colourful euphemisms for vomiting. Slang terms and synonyms for vomiting: Throw up (phrasal verb), puke, barf, heave, hurl, blow chunks, spew, yack, ralph, retch, chuck, chuck up, upchuck, sick up, spit up, bring up, toss cookies, lose your cookies, lose/blow your lunch, boke, chunder, cack, cascade, disgorge, urp, vurp, technicolor yawn, liquid laugh, laugh at the ground, holler New York, call Earl, paint the walls, spray McDonald's, summon the earl. The experience of vomiting into a toilet has its own synonyms: hug/worship/pray to the porcelain god/goddess, pray to Dionysus (or Dionysos), hug the throne, drive/ride the porcelain bus, talk to Ralph on the big white telephone, place a person-to-person call through the sewer system.

See also

Category:Symptom Category:Sign (medicine) de:Erbrechen it:Vomito pt:Emese

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