peristaltic

1 definition found

peristaltic - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Peristaltic \Per`i*stal"tic\, a. [Gr. ? clasping and
     compressing, fr. ? to surround, wrap up; ? round + ? to
     place, arrange: cf. F. p['e]ristaltique.] (Physiol.)
     Pertaining to a wormlike wave motion of the intestines, and
     by analogy, of other flexible tubular structures. In the body
     it is produced by a progressive contraction of the muscular
     fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards in the
     direction of the wave; as, peristaltic movement. --
     Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly, adv.
     [1913 Webster]