Oscitation, Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutters & Gingival Algesia

We've come across a lot of questions that could be answered by a few lines, so we've decided to couple them into one big answer. Here we go!


Q1: Why do my eyes tear up while I yawn?

A: The most popular answer to this involves the stretching of lacrimal glands, tear ducts and the punctum associated with the eyes when the facial muscles stretch during an episode of yawning.

Additional Trivia: New research shows that yawning could be a physiological response to increased brain temperatures! 

(Source:Gallup AC, Eldakar OT. The thermoregulatory theory of yawning: what we know from over 5 years of research. Front Neurosci. 2013;6:188. Published 2013 Jan 2. doi:10.3389/fnins.2012.00188)




Q2: Why do hiccups happen and does water really stop them?



A: Hiccups are transient episodic involuntary myoclonic jerks of the diaphragm, often in response to a stimulus arising from the esophagus. (through the vagus nerve)

Esophageal stimulation, often due to excessive eating, irritation or GERD triggers afferent receptors in the esophagus and leads to stimulation of the diaphragmatic muscles. Consumption of water often reduces this stimulation of receptors and relieves hiccups.

Additional Trivia: Persistent hiccups are often treated with muscle relaxants like Baclofen and antipsychotics like Chlorpromazine.

Q: Why do my gums ache?


Statistically looking at things, the most common cause of gum aches is gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gums most often secondary to deposition of plaques on the margins between teeth and gums.

This irritation triggers the afferent receptors of the mandibular/maxillary branches of the Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) which causes pain.

Additional Trivia: The Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) is the largest cranial nerve of the body. The smallest cranial nerve is the trochlear nerve (CN IV) but it has the longest intracranial course!

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