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.
Graphic of junctions in animal cells. Tight junctions. Tight junctions block the flow of fluids between epithelial cells. For example, the cells that line the intestine are responsible for taking up nutrients from the gut. The nature of the material taken up must be controlled to block unwanted substances from entering our bodies. The control comes from the fact that materials must pass through receptors on the epithelial cell membranes. Tight junctions form a water tight seal and prevent material from passing between cells.