Process accompanying digestion

• The process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Peristalsis \Per`i*stal"sis\, n. [NL. See Peristaltic .] (Physiol.) Peristaltic contraction or action.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1859, Modern Latin peristalsis ; see peristaltic .

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context medicine English) The rhythmic, wave-like contraction of the digestive tract that forces food through it.

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Peristalsis is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagates in a wave down a tube, in an anterograde direction. In much of a digestive tract such as the human gastrointestinal tract , smooth muscle tissue contracts in sequence ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. the process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along [syn: vermiculation ] [ant: anastalsis ] [also: peristalses (pl)]