hiccup

hiccup An extraordinary type of breathing movement that involves a sudden intake of air (inspiration) due to a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, accompanied by closure of the glottis in the larynx. Closure of the glottis then halts the incoming air. The column of air strikes the closed glottis to produce the characteristic sound of a hiccup. Prolonged hiccups can become a major medical problem and be a sign of underlying disease (such as lung cancer or tumors in or around the diaphragm). Intractable hiccups can be painful and require medication to cause them to stop. In some patients with tic disorders, hiccups can be a tic. Also known as a singultus and hiccough.