Which term describes the involuntary contractions that move food through the digestive tract?

Peristalsis refers specifically to the series of involuntary muscle contractions that occur in the digestive tract, facilitating the movement of food along the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. This coordinated action involves a wave-like pattern that helps push the food through various sections of the gastrointestinal tract, ensuring it is processed and moved efficiently toward elimination.

Understanding why peristalsis is the correct term is essential; it highlights the importance of muscular contractions in digestion and contrasts with other terms. Digestion pertains to the biochemical process of breaking down food into smaller components but does not specifically address the movement aspect. Transport may imply movement but is too broad and not specific to the digestive process. Absorption refers to the uptake of nutrients from digested food into the bloodstream once it has been broken down, which occurs after peristalsis has moved the food through the digestive tract.