Peristalsis is a series of normal coordinated, rhythmic muscle contractions that occur automatically to move food through the digestive tract.
Reviewed last on: 10/20/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.