Define peristalsis and state its importance.

1. Peristalsis: Peristalsis is a series of wave-like contractions of the muscles that are involved in the food movement and in the movement of other liquid particles in the digestive tract to various processing organs that are located in the digestive system.
2. Peristalsis occurs in the oesophagus, intestines, and stomach and the waves could be long, short, continuous or continual that transit within the complete length of the organs, basis their location.
3. The peristaltic movement is initiated from the oesophagus when the food is completely swallowed which includes the reflexive action of the longitudinal and circular muscles greatly in the digestive sites and some other times in hollow tubes that are present in progressive wave-like contractions.
4. This movement is involuntary and is important for the movement of food down the stomach and bowels down the anus.