Vomiting

Vomiting occurs when, under the influence of the vagus nerve, the sphincter between the stomach and the oesophagus opens and the muscles of the stomach contract vigorously, causing a forceful ejection of the stomach contents. This can be the result of direct irritation of the gastric mucosa by a toxic substance or an infectious agent, as happens in food poisoning or gastroenteritis, or it may be the result of disorders situated well away from the stomach, such as migraine or motion sickness. The reflex is co-ordinated by a part of the brain called the chemoreceptor trigger zone. There are certain drugs which stimulate this area directly - particularly some of those used in the treatment of cancer, when the reflex can be suppressed using anti sickness agents, but if the cause is direct irritation of the stomach by a noxious substance, then the best treatment is fluid replacement while the body works to rid itself of whatever is irritating it. It is a protective measure against overdose, particularly of agents like alcohol.
 
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