A yawn is a reflex in vertebrate animals characterized by a long inspiratory phase with gradual mouth gaping, followed by a brief climax (or acme) with muscle stretching, and a rapid expiratory phase with muscle relaxation, which typically lasts a few seconds.

Mar 15, 2024 · Yawning is a common reflex in which you open your jaw wide, take a deep breath, and then quickly breathe out. It lasts about 4-7 seconds and often happens when you're waking up or falling asleep....

Oct 16, 2023 · Yawning is the opening of your airway and mouth to take a long, deep breath of air. It’s a complex muscular movement. In seconds, your entire airway fully dilates (expands). And surrounding muscles powerfully stretch or tense, most significantly around your throat (pharynx). Another term for yawning is oscitation.

Apr 25, 2023 · Yawning is an involuntary opening of the mouth to take a deep breath. We likely yawn to help regulate our brain’s temperature and yes, yawns can be contagious.

Oct 21, 2024 · A yawn is an involuntary reflex that involves opening the mouth wide and taking in a deep breath, followed by a slow exhale. Several theories exist about why we yawn, but researchers have not...

Dec 5, 2022 · Yawning, the involuntary act of opening your mouth, taking a deep breath, and exhaling, is the body's natural response to being tired or bored. But yawning that happens excessively (or more often than usual) could indicate an underlying health issue. This article discusses the potential causes behind yawning more than usual.

Oct 10, 2023 · Yawning is considered "contagious" because when you see someone else yawn, it often stimulates you to yawn, too. This article explains the theories and reasons behind yawning and why it can be contagious.

Feb 26, 2025 · A yawn is an involuntary reflex where you open your mouth, breathe in deeply, and then quickly exhale. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why yawning occurs, but common triggers include fatigue...

Feb 5, 2020 · There are many theories as to why people yawn. One popular theory is that yawning helps your body bring in more oxygen. But this theory has been mostly debunked. Keep reading to see what...

5 days ago · Sleepiness is often written off as a byproduct of today’s always-on society, but it can have serious health consequences, experts say.