Final answer:
The movements that propel food through the digestive tract are known as peristalsis, which are waves of muscle contractions that move and mix food along the alimentary canal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movements that propel food particles through the digestive tract are called peristalsis. Peristalsis involves sequential, alternating waves of contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles in the walls of the alimentary canal. This mechanism is responsible for moving food along through the digestive system, including mixing it with digestive juices, and is powerful enough to work regardless of the person's orientation, even if standing on one's head. This process of propulsion, which includes both swallowing and the involuntary process of peristalsis, ensures that food is efficiently moved towards the stomach and later through the intestines for further digestion and absorption.