peristalsis
1 synonym and 1 antonym for peristalsis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The wave-like squeezing of muscles in the walls of a tube-shaped organ, especially the gut, that pushes its contents steadily along.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
vermiculation
Antonyms
anastalsis
How to use peristalsis
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
reverse peristalsis
slow peristalsis
peristaltic wave
peristaltic pump
Medical and biological; the adjective is 'peristaltic'.
Etymology
From Greek peristaltikos, from peristellein 'to wrap around', from peri- 'around' and stellein 'to place, send'.
Full origin of peristalsis →Frequently asked questions
Where does peristalsis happen in the body?
Mainly in the oesophagus, stomach and intestines, but the same wave motion also moves urine down the ureters and eggs along the fallopian tubes.
What is the difference between peristalsis and segmentation?
Peristalsis is a directional wave that transports contents forward. Segmentation is a back-and-forth churning in the small intestine that mixes food with digestive juices without moving it along much.
Can you control peristalsis?
No. It is driven by smooth muscle under involuntary nervous control, which is why swallowing continues automatically once you have started it.
