What is the muscular movement that propels food through the digestive tract?

What is the muscular movement that propels food through the digestive tract?

• A. Peristalsis
• B. Segmentation
• C. Mastication
• D. Deglutition

Answer: (A)

Peristalsis is the rhythmic, wave-like contractions of the smooth muscles along the digestive tract that push swallowed food forward from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines. These coordinated contractions advance the contents in one direction, helping propel them through the whole tract. Segmentation, by contrast, consists of local, circular contractions that mix chyme to enhance contact with absorptive surfaces rather than steadily moving it forward. Mastication is the chewing process in the mouth, and deglutition is swallowing, the initial move of food into the esophagus—neither of these describe the propulsion all the way through the digestive system.

Peristalsis is the rhythmic, wave-like contractions of the smooth muscles along the digestive tract that push swallowed food forward from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines. These coordinated contractions advance the contents in one direction, helping propel them through the whole tract. Segmentation, by contrast, consists of local, circular contractions that mix chyme to enhance contact with absorptive surfaces rather than steadily moving it forward. Mastication is the chewing process in the mouth, and deglutition is swallowing, the initial move of food into the esophagus—neither of these describe the propulsion all the way through the digestive system.