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Definition of Peristalsis, Process & Its Function in Digestion

The definition of peristalsis is muscle movement. This peristalsis occurs in the human digestive organs. By doing this movement, human digestion can digest food that enters the body.

This movement certainly has a very important role. If this muscle movement does not occur, the food that enters the digestive tract cannot be digested properly.

Peristalsis itself will have the effect of sucking in and also swallowing food that enters the digestive tract. When you swallow, food and fluids will start to enter automatically triggering nerves to start a series of contractions.

This contraction is the peristalsis in human digestion.

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Understanding Peristalsis in Digestion

Peristalsis is a squeezing movement that occurs in the esophagus.

This explains that when we drink water, the water will not spill even if we do it while moving freely. All of that happens because of the force defense in the hull.

This peristaltic movement is a series of muscle contractions that occur in the digestive tract automatically. Starting from food that enters the esophagus when swallowing, to descending into the digestive tract.

Peristalsis occurs due to smooth muscles that move like waves, so they have the ability to move food and fluids in the digestive tract. Food will eventually come out through the anus or urethra.

This muscle movement has two characteristics, namely complete and smooth.motion). Basically, the notion of peristalsis is a normal function of the body, which you can sometimes feel when gas moves in the stomach.

Simply put, this peristaltic movement uses the principle of clamping or clamping food that enters the digestive tract.

Peristalsis Process

This peristalsis occurs in everyday life and you can actually notice it. Sometimes the human stomach will emit certain sounds that can be heard by the ear.

This is a sign of the condition of the stomach. The sound that is heard actually comes from the small intestine and is related to the function of the digestive system which is like a long tube.

Digestion will connect various types of organs and other body parts. The way to push material into the digestive system is by waves of muscle contractions.

This movement is known as peristalsis. The contractions that occur will help in stirring different foods and digestive juices until they are mixed and become sticky called Chyme.

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What is the Function of Peristalsis?

Peristalsis certainly occurs aiming to digest food that enters the body. The existence of this peristaltic movement serves to move food.

Food will move through the digestive system, starting from swallowing and continuing to the esophagus, stomach, and even to the anus.

Peristalsis will also move urine from the kidneys to the bladder and also bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum (duodenum).

This understanding of peristalsis in essence allows the body to digest food. In addition, peristalsis also functions to clean bacteria and digestive waste products at the right time from the digestive tract.

Where the Peristalsis Occurs

This peristalsis occurs along the digestive tract. First peristalsis will occur in the esophagus when you swallow.

After that the movement continues through the stomach. Peristalsis in the stomach moves more slowly to allow for segmentation or a churning motion to mix food and break it up smaller.

Peristalsis that occurs in the intestine will allow the gallbladder to move its contents into the intestine to help digestion and absorption of nutrients. This movement occurs along the digestive process to the end of the large intestine.

In addition, the kidneys and urethra as well as the rectum and anus also perform peristalsis. Peristalsis in the kidneys will help move urine fluid towards the bladder to come out as urine.

Read Also: Smooth Muscle Functions in the Body, Structure and How It Works!

While peristalsis in the rectum and anus functions to remove dirt in the form of feces or feces from the body. All the remaining food that enters the esophagus will come out through the anus in the form of faeces.

That is the meaning of peristalsis and its function. The body, especially the digestive organs, really need this movement so that the incoming food and drink can be managed properly. (R10/HR-Online)

This post was last modified on Februari 22, 2023 1:42 AM

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