vomiting

Last reviewed 03/2023

This is the process by which the contents of the stomach are expelled through the mouth.

When the effort of vomiting is made but nothing is expelled the process is called retching. Retching is a common symptom of alcoholism.

The vomiting centre in the brain co-ordinates the contraction of the abdominal wall and the opening of the cardiac sphincter of the stomach. The vomiting centre is found in the floor of the fourth ventricle.