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***Human Anatomy and Physiology***

Define the term “peristalsis” and explain why it is important.

User Yalamber
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Answer:

Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. It starts in the esophagus where strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle move balls of swallowed food to the stomach.

The peristaltic movement also called as the Peristalsis refers to the contraction and relaxation of the food in the oesophagus and the food pipe and the food is forced down the track to the stomach. This movement is involuntary and is necessary for the movement of food down the stomach and bowels down the anus

User Reid Ballard
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