What is the term for the propulsion of food through the gastrointestinal tract?

The propulsion of food through the gastrointestinal tract is known as peristalsis. This process involves a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food along the digestive tract, starting from the esophagus and continuing through the stomach and intestines. Peristalsis is essential for the proper movement of food, allowing it to be mixed with digestive juices and eventually moved towards elimination.

In contrast, digestion refers to the chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that can be absorbed. Swallowing is the initial act of moving food from the mouth into the esophagus, which does not encompass the entire movement through the digestive system. Absorption is the process by which nutrients from digested food are taken up into the bloodstream, but it does not describe the mechanical action of moving food through the tract. Thus, peristalsis is specifically the term that describes the coordinated muscle contractions responsible for this propulsion.