Peristalsis (redirected from Visible peristalsis)

peristalsis: see digestive system.

---

peristalsis

Progressive wavelike muscle contractions in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, and sometimes in the ureters and other hollow tubes. The waves can be short, local reflexes or long, continuous contractions along the length of the organ. In the esophagus, peristaltic waves push food into the stomach. In the stomach, they help mix stomach contents and propel food to the small intestine, where they expose food to the intestinal wall for absorption and move it forward. Peristalsis in the large intestine pushes waste toward the anal canal and is important in removing gas and dislodging potential bacterial colonies.

---

peristalsis

Physiol 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

---

peristalsis [‚per·ə′stäl·səs]

(physiology)

The rhythmic progressive wave of muscular contraction in tubes, such as the intestine, provided with both longitudinal and transverse muscular fibers.

---

Peristalsis 

a wavelike contraction that propels the contents of tubular organs, for example, the intestine, stomach, and ureters, caudally in animals or in a downward direction in man. Peristalsis is the result of many coordinated contractions of the longitudinal and transverse muscles in the walls of a tubular organ. A single peristaltic wave takes the form of a circular constriction around the lumen that moves along the length of the organ. The walls of the organ are always slightly relaxed before the arrival of the constriction, so that the wave appears to push the contents in the direction in which it travels. Peristaltic waves follow each other continuously at a fixed rhythm and rate. In man, for example, the peristaltic rhythm of the stomach is 3 waves/min, with each wave moving at the rate of 0.5 cm/sec; intestinal peristalsis occurs at the rate of 6 waves/min.

Peristalsis is conditioned by the ability of smooth muscles to contract automatically and by the functioning of nerve plexuses in the muscles. The autonomic nervous system and humoral factors regulate peristalsis. Furthermore, the central nervous system, including the cerebral cortex, may participate in the regulation of peristalsis. This was experimentally demonstrated in animals by inducing changes in peristaltic patterns using conditioned reflexes. Observations on humans show that anger and pain inhibit peristalsis, whereas fear sometimes intensifies it; these observations are taken as further evidence that the cortex may have a role in peristaltic control. However, peristalsis is well indicated in isolated parts of the intestine. Medications and the physical and chemical properties of foods also affect peristalsis.

REFERENCES

See references under .