Peristalsis

Peristalsis: how this important process works in our body

Peristalsis is an important process that occurs in many hollow organs of our body, such as the intestines, stomach, bladder and others. This process allows the contents of organs to move along their length and maintain a certain level of functional activity.

How does peristalsis work?

Peristalsis occurs due to wave contractions of muscle tissue that spread along the walls of the hollow organ. These contractions occur spontaneously and occur due to the coordination of the circular and longitudinal muscles.

The orbicularis muscles are found around the hollow organ and have a ring structure. When the walls of the organ are stretched, the orbicularis muscles begin to contract, narrowing the lumen of the organ. This helps move the contents of the organ down towards the exit.

The longitudinal muscles are located along the hollow organ and have a longitudinal structure. When the circular muscles contract, the longitudinal muscles relax, allowing the organ contents to move down toward the outlet.

Before contraction of the circular muscles occurs, these muscles relax in the area before contraction. This allows the contents of the organ to move forward before the next wave contraction.

Why is peristalsis necessary?

Peristalsis plays an important role in the functioning of our body. It allows you to move food from the stomach to the intestines, move urine from the bladder to the ureters, etc. Thanks to this process, we can remove waste from our body and maintain its functional activity.

The peristaltic process can be disrupted by various factors, such as nervous or muscular diseases, inflammatory processes, tumor formations and others. This can lead to disruption of the functional activity of organs and the appearance of various symptoms such as pain, constipation, diarrhea and others.

In conclusion, peristalsis is an important process that helps maintain the functional activity of the hollow organs of our body. Thanks to the coordination of the work of the circular and longitudinal muscles, the contents of the organs move along their length. Peristalsis disorders can lead to various diseases and symptoms, so it is important to monitor your health and promptly consult a doctor if problems arise.



Peristalsis is wave-like muscle contractions that travel along hollow organs of the human body, such as the intestines. Contractions occur spontaneously, and they are characteristic of organs equipped with circular and longitudinal muscles.

Peristalsis is caused by stretching of the walls of hollow organs. When the walls of the organ are stretched, the orbicularis muscles contract, causing the contents to move distally (that is, from the proximal end to the distal end).

Before the circular muscles are stretched, these muscles relax and the longitudinal muscles contract. This allows the contents of the organ to move forward.

The term “peristaltic” comes from the Latin word “peristaltus,” which means “wavy.” Peristaltic contractions are an important mechanism for moving food through the intestines of humans and other animals. They are also used in medical practice to promote the contents of hollow organs in various diseases such as constipation or intestinal obstruction.

In general, peristalsis is an important process that ensures the movement of food and other substances through the hollow organs in our body. It is carried out by contracting muscles and stretching the walls of organs, which allows the contents to move in the desired direction.



Peristalsis is wave-like muscle contractions that spread along the hollow organs of the human body. It occurs spontaneously and is typical for organs that have circular and longitudinal muscles. Organs such as the intestines frequently undergo peristalsis.

Peristalsis occurs due to stretching of the wall of the hollow organ, which leads to contraction of the circular muscles. When the walls of the organ are stretched, the orbicularis muscles contract, which helps propel the organ contents distally.

Before the circular muscles are stretched, the longitudinal muscles relax, allowing the contents of the organ to move forward. Thus, peristalsis helps move food and other substances along the digestive canal.

The term “peristaltic” refers to the peristaltic muscle contractions that occur in the hollow organs of the body. It is used to describe the process of promoting the contents of these organs.