peristalsis
peristalsis
Noun
This term describes a specific biological mechanism of propulsion. It evokes the image of a rhythmic, squeezing wave that travels along a tube, ensuring a one-way flow of materials regardless of gravity. It is primarily used in medical, anatomical, and biological contexts to describe the internal workings of the digestive tract or ureters.
As a mass noun referring to a physiological process, it is treated as uncountable. It does not have a plural form in standard medical usage, as it describes the general phenomenon of muscular contraction rather than individual instances of the action.
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digestionintestineesophagusstomachcolonmusclecontractionrelaxationwavemotilitysmooth muscleboluschymedeglutitiongutvisceraabdomensphincterpyloruscardiaduodenumjejunumileumrectumanuspropulsionsegmentationmixingabsorptionsecretionenzymemucosaserosamuscularissubmucosaplexusneuronganglionacetylcholinenitric oxidevagus nerveautonomic nervous systemreflexspasmobstructionconstipationdiarrheavomitingemesisrefluxgastrinsecretincholecystokininbilepancreaslivergallbladdermetabolismnutrientglucoseamino acidlipidfiberrhythmpulsationcompressionexpulsion