Cough

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cough

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the physiological mechanism?A three-phase reflex involving inspiratory gasp, glottis closure, and forceful expiratory blast
2. What is the efferent pathways?Motor commands to respiratory muscles (diaphragm, intercostals, abdominals) and laryngeal muscles
3. Why does a cough feel in my toes?When you cough hard, the sudden rush of air and pressure can make your body feel a little jolt, sometimes reaching your toes. It's just the body's way of reacting to the strong movement.
4. How fast can a cough move air?A cough can push air out at speeds up to about 100 kilometers per hour, which is faster than a car on a highway.

Intrathoracic Pressure: The pressure within the chest cavity, which increases dramatically during the cough's compression phase.
Cough Center: A specific area in the brainstem that coordinates the complex motor and sensory functions of the cough reflex.
Antitussives: Medications designed to suppress or relieve coughing, often by acting on the central nervous system or local receptors.