Sneeze

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/sneeze

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 scientific name?Sternutation
2. What is the primary neurological pathway?Trigeminal nerve stimulation leading to a brainstem reflex
3. What happens inside my body when I sneeze?When you sneeze, tiny nerves in your nose notice something like dust or a cold. They send a signal to your brain, which tells your body to take a big breath in, then push it out very hard. This rush of air blows the irritants out of your nose.
4. Why do I sneeze when I see bright light?Some people have a special reflex called the photic sneeze reflex. When bright light hits their eyes, the nerves that sense light and the nerves that sense the nose get mixed up, so the brain sends the sneeze signal.

Sternutation: The scientific and medical term for the act of sneezing, a complex reflex action.
Nasal Mucosa: The specialized mucous membrane lining the nasal passages, rich in sensory nerve endings.
Photic Sneeze Reflex (ACHOO Syndrome): An inherited condition causing sneezing in response to sudden exposure to bright light.
Venturi Effect: A fluid dynamics principle where increased fluid speed through a constriction leads to decreased pressure, accelerating expulsion.