title: Hiccups: a new explanation for the mysterious reflex.
abstract: The hiccup may have evolved to remove swallowed air from the stomach, which may help suckling mammals to consume more milk.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Department of Emergency Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. howesd@kgh.kari.net
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howes
mesh_terms: D006606:Hiccup / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology