Peristalsis

Peristalsis
: The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach, this motion mixes food with gastric juices, turning it into a thin liquid.
* * *
The movement of the intestine or other tubular structure, characterized by waves of alternate circular contraction and relaxation of the tube by which the contents are propelled onward. SYN: vermicular movement. [peri- + G. stalsis, constriction]
- mass p. forcible peristaltic movements of short duration, occurring only three or four times a day, which move the contents of the large intestine from one division to the next, as from the ascending to the transverse colon. SYN: mass movement.
- reversed p. a wave of intestinal contraction in a direction the reverse of normal, by which the contents of the intestine are forced backward. SYN: antiperistalsis.

* * *

peri·stal·sis .per-ə-'stȯl-səs, -'stäl-, -'stal- n, pl -stal·ses -.sēz successive waves of involuntary contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure (as the esophagus or intestine) and forcing the contents onward compare SEGMENTATION (2)

* * *

n.
a wavelike movement that progresses along some of the hollow tubes of the body. It occurs involuntarily and is characteristic of tubes that possess circular and longitudinal muscles, such as the intestine. It is induced by distension of the walls of the tube. Immediately behind the distension the circular muscle contracts. In front of the distension the circular muscle relaxes and the longitudinal muscle contracts, which pushes the contents of the tube forward.
• peristaltic adj.

* * *

peri·stal·sis (per″ĭ-stawlґsis) [peri- + Gr. stalsis contraction] the movement by which the alimentary canal and other tubular organs that have both longitudinal and circular muscle fibers propel their contents; it consists of a wave of contraction passing along the tube for variable distances. peristaltic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Peristalsis — is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. The word is derived from New Latin and comes from the Greek peristaltikos , peristaltic, from peristellein , to wrap around, and stellein , to place. In …   Wikipedia

  • peristalsis — peristalsis. (Del gr. περίσταλσις). f. Biol. Contracción progresiva, de un extremo a otro, de ciertos órganos tubulares para hacer avanzar su contenido. * * * o peristaltismo Contracciones progresivas ondulantes, de los músculos del esófago, el… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • peristalsis — f. fisiol.Peristaltismo. Medical Dictionary. 2011 …   Diccionario médico

  • peristalsis — 1859, Mod.L., from Gk. peristalsis, from peristellein, lit. “to send round.” …   Etymology dictionary

  • Peristalsis — Per i*stal sis, n. [NL. See {Peristaltic}.] (Physiol.) Peristaltic contraction or action. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • peristalsis — (Del gr. περίσταλσις). f. Biol. Contracción progresiva, de un extremo a otro, de ciertos órganos tubulares para hacer avanzar su contenido …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • peristalsis — ► NOUN ▪ the contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestines, creating wave like movements which push the contents of the intestines forward. DERIVATIVES peristaltic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek peristallein wrap around …   English terms dictionary

  • peristalsis — [per΄ə stal′sis, per΄əstôl′sis] n. pl. peristalses [per΄ə stôl′sēz΄, per΄ə stal′sēz΄] [ModL < Gr peristaltikos < peristellein, to surround, involve < peri , around + stellein, to place: for IE base see STALK1] the rhythmic, wavelike… …   English World dictionary

  • peristalsis — /per euh stawl sis, stal /, n., pl. peristalses / seez/. Physiol. the progressive wave of contraction and relaxation of a tubular muscular system, esp. the alimentary canal, by which the contents are forced through the system. [1855 60; < NL < Gk …   Universalium

  • peristalsis inversa — Peristalsis que impulsa el contenido en sentido contrario al normal. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • peristalsis — noun (plural peristalses) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek peristaltikos peristaltic Date: 1859 successive waves of involuntary contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure (as the esophagus or intestine) and forcing the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”