Hiccups usually stop within a few minutes to a few hours. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. Hiccups that last longer than a month are called intractable hiccups. While very rare, intractable hiccups can cause exhaustion, lack of sleep, and weight loss.
Gap junctions. Gap junctions. connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current. Gap junctions were first described anatomically as regions of close apposition between cells with a narrow (1-2 nm) gap between cell membranes. The variety in the properties of gap junctions is reflected in the number of connexins, the family of proteins which form the junctions. Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page.
IX. 3 Types Of Cell Junctions Found In Animal Tissues A. tight junctions 1. neighboring cells held tightly together via proteins 2. prevent leakage B. desmosomes (anchoring junctions) 1. function like rivets to hold cells together in strong sheets 2. common in tissues subject to stretching or mechanical stress a. skin & muscle C. gap junctions 1. are communicating junctions 2. protein lined pores 3. allow small molecules to flow between adjacent cells a. ions of heart cells to coordinate contraction b. enable embryo cells to communicate â¢ A desmosome forms a very strong spot weld between cells. It is created by the linkage of cadherins and intermediate filaments. (credit: modification of work by Mariana Ruiz Villareal)