per·i·stal·sis 
(pĕr′ĭ-stôlsĭs, -stăl-)
(pĕr′ĭ-stôlsĭs, -stăl-)n. pl. per·i·stal·ses (-sēz)
The wavelike muscular contractions of the digestive tract or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.
[New Latin, from Greek peristaltikos, peristaltic, from peristellein, to wrap around : peri-, peri- + stellein, to place; see stel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
per′i·staltic (-stôltĭk, -stăl-) adj.
per′i·stalti·cal·ly adv.