Question

Peristalsis is which of the following?

1) Waves that move food through the digestive system
2) Mucus that slides food through the digestive system
3) Binds food within the digestive system
4) Absorption of food into the body
5) None of the above

Answer 1

Peristalsis is the process described by waves of muscle contractions that move food through the digestive system; it is the correct answer to the student's question (1).

Step-by-step explanation:

Peristalsis is the process that moves food through the digestive system, and it correctly matches the first option: waves that move food through the digestive system. This process involves sequential, alternating waves of muscle contraction and relaxation within the walls of the digestive organs. These muscle contractions act like a series of squeezes along the digestive tract, propelling food forward. Peristalsis is an involuntary movement, meaning it occurs without conscious decision and is crucial for proper digestion and the movement of food along the gastrointestinal tract.

Peristalsis is the wave-like contractions of smooth muscles in the digestive system that help move food through the organs. The muscles contract and relax in waves, pushing the food along the digestive tract. Without peristalsis, food would not be able to move through the digestive system. It is an involuntary process that occurs without conscious control.