What are involuntary wave-like contractions of smooth muscle in the digestive system called?

Involuntary wave-like contractions of smooth muscle in the digestive system are known as peristalsis. This process plays a crucial role in moving food through the digestive tract. Peristalsis involves a coordinated series of muscle contractions that create a wave-like motion, allowing for the progressive movement of food bolus and other contents through the esophagus to the intestines.

While segmentation is also a type of muscle contraction occurring in the intestines, it primarily mixes food with digestive juices rather than propelling it forward. Reflexive motility refers to involuntary muscle movements that can have various triggers but does not specifically denote the type of smooth muscle contraction related to moving food through the digestive system. Digestion, on the other hand, describes the biochemical processes that break down food into nutrients, rather than the muscular movements themselves. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why peristalsis is the correct term for the involuntary wave-like contractions essential for digestion.