peristalsis definition - Dictionary

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peristalsis

per·i·stal·sis [ pèrrə stáwlsiss ] (plural per·i·stal·ses [ pèrrə stáwl sz ])

noun

Definition:

muscle contractions: the waves of involuntary muscle contractions that transport food, waste matter, or other contents through a tube-shaped organ such as the intestine

[Mid-19th century. < modern Latin< Greek peristaltikos "clasping, compressing" < peristellein "place around" < stellein "to place"]

per·i·stal·tic adjective

per·i·stal·ti·cal·ly [ pèrrə stáwltikəlee ] adverb