the succession of waves of involuntary muscular contraction of various bodily tubes, esp of the alimentary tract, where it effects transport of food and waste products
Derived forms
peristaltic (ˌperiˈstaltic)
adjective
peristaltically (ˌperiˈstaltically)
adverb
Word origin
C19: from New Latin, from peri- + Greek stalsis compression, from stellein to press together
the rhythmic, wavelike motion of the walls of the alimentary canal and certain other hollow organs, consisting of alternate contractions and dilations of transverse and longitudinal muscles that move the contents of the tube onward
Derived forms
peristaltic (ˌperiˈstaltic)
adjective
peristaltically (ˌperiˈstaltically)
adverb
Word origin
ModL < Gr peristaltikos < peristellein, to surround, involve < peri-, around + stellein, to place: for IE base see stalk1
Examples of 'peristalsis' in a sentence
peristalsis
Then the coach entered a feeder tube and was squeezed to higher and higher speeds by the peristalsis of the feeder tube's sides.