#27: Who’s Arnold?
This person described Arnold’s cough reflex as something that triggers a gag reflex, specifically when he inserts a Q-tip into his ear. We have to say, that sounds pretty random. Also known as the Arnold reflex or pharyngo-glottal reflex, this phenomenon is a protective mechanism that plays a crucial role in preventing aspiration of food or liquid into the windpipe or trachea during swallowing.
Named after the 19th-century German physician Friedrich Arnold, this reflex involves the coordination of the muscles of the throat, larynx, and vocal cords – which explains this person’s gag reflex. The Arnold cough reflex is an essential component of our body’s defense mechanisms, helping to ensure that substances go down the esophagus to the stomach instead of entering the respiratory system.