Question

What is peristalsis? How does it help in digestion.

Answer 1

Peristalsis is successive waves of muscular contractions and relaxation which moves the food along the digestive tract. Peristaltic movement occurs by relaxation of circular smooth muscles above the bolus and the contraction of longitudinal muscles below the bolus. It helps in properly mixing up of food with digestive enzymes for proper digestion and the movement of the food through the alimentary canal