peristalsis

peri·stal·sis

noun
\ˌper-ə-ˈstȯl-səs, -ˈstäl-, -ˈstal-\

plural peri·stal·ses \-ˌsēz\

Definition of PERISTALSIS

: successive waves of involuntary contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure (as the esophagus or intestine) and forcing the contents onward—compare segmentation 2