Getting the wind knocked out of you 5052168 212525558 2008-05-15T03:42:58Z Zantolak 60876 {{unreferenced|date=January 2008}} '''Getting the wind knocked out of you''' is a phrase that mainly refers to a kind of [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]] spasm that occurs when sudden force is applied to the abdomen which puts pressure on the [[Celiac plexus|solar plexus]]. It results in a temporary paralysis of the [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]] that makes it difficult to breathe for a short period of time.<ref>{{cite book | last=MacAuley | first=D | title=Oxford Handbook of Sport and Exercise Medicine | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2007 | isbn=0-19-856839-8 | page=572 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Furuya | first=Y | coauthors= Shintaku K, Kita T | title=Neurogenic shock caused by striking on epigastrium | journal=Igaku Kenkyu | volume=49 | issue=4 | pages=371 | date=October 1979 | pmid=317623 }}</ref> It can also occur from a strong blow to the back. When the abdomen is struck, a large difference in pressure occurs across the diaphragm. The diaphragm then stretches, which also stretches the diaphragm's nerves. The resulting mechanical force puts the diaphragm into a muscle spasm, comparable to having a [[charley horse]] in the leg. It takes a few seconds for the diaphragm to relax again before breathing can resume normally. Martial artists are often taught to breathe out heavily when struck in the stomach, to minimize this effect. Often the laryngeal muscles contract during diaphragm spasm producing an inspiratory sound known as [[stridor]] which can be heard for several cycles as breathing resumes. [[Singultus]], commonly known as the [[hiccups]], is also a form of diaphragm spasm, although much milder. A singultus episode impairs voluntary breathing control for brief moments (measured in milliseconds) rather than for several seconds. ==References== <references/> {{med-stub}} [[Category:Respiratory system]]