Library · Physiology
Sneeze reflex
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A sneeze, which in medical terms is called sternutation, is a burst of air expelled all at once: sudden, forceful, impossible to control, and coming out through the nose and the mouth.
Where it starts matters. A sneeze comes from irritation of the mucous membranes, the moist lining of the nose or the throat. Something bothers them up there and the body responds.
Thin nerve fibers take part in that reflex, the C fibers of the trigeminal nerve, the nerve that handles sensation in the face. And the chemical mediators released by that irritation activate sensory receptors that in turn trigger central nervous system reflexes, the sneeze among them. It is a smoke detector that sets off the whole alarm at the first hint, without checking with anyone.
And it is worth saying: sneezing can be very bothersome, but it is rarely a sign of a serious problem.
In brief
A sneeze, or sternutation, is a sudden, forceful, uncontrollable burst of air through the nose and mouth.
A smoke detector that sets off the whole alarm at the first hint, without checking with anyone.
It starts with irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose or throat.
Trigeminal C fibers take part in the reflex, and the mediators released activate central nervous system reflexes.
It is very bothersome, but it rarely signals a serious problem.
Sources (3)
- National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaSneezing, MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingNonallergic Rhinitis (Vasomotor Rhinitis), StatPearlsPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingPhysiology, Nasal, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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