Question

A wave of muscular contraction and relaxation that occurs throughout the length of the alimentary canal is called______.

Answer 1

Alimentary canal:

1. The mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine form the alimentary canal.
2. The food from the mouth passes to the stomach through the oesophagus(windpipe) by a wave of muscular contraction and relaxation known as a peristaltic movement.
3. The food that we eat passes through the alimentary canal where it is broken down into simpler components and is then absorbed by the cells of the body.

Final answer:
A wave of muscular contraction and relaxation that occurs throughout the length of the alimentary canal is called peristalsis.