peristalsis
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
peristalsis /ˌpɛrɪˈstalsɪs/
▶noun Physiology the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal, creating wave-like movements which push the contents of the canal forward.
– derivatives
peristaltic adjective,
peristaltically adverb.
peristaltic adjective,
peristaltically adverb.
– origin C19: mod. L., from Gk peristallein ‘wrap around’.
'peristalsis' also found in these Oxford entries:
