Peristalsis Meaning
Wavelike muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract peristalsis. Peristalsis is the process that pushes food through your digestive system.
Wavelike muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract peristalsis. Peristalsis is the process that pushes food through your digestive system.

Imagine trying to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of a nearly empty tube. Just as you apply pressure and create a wave-like motion with your fingers to move the toothpaste forward, your digestive tract uses a similar method called peristalsis to push food along. In both cases, a coordinated series of muscle contractions work like a gentle, rhythmic push to move contents from one end to the other, ensuring nothing gets left behind.

