When certain muscles in the digestive and urinary tracts contract, it is called peristalsis. Peristalsis is a particular, wave-like kind of muscle contraction because its purpose is to move solids or liquids along within the tube-like structures of the digestive and urinary tracts. Peristalsis is not a voluntary muscle movement, so it’s not something people can control consciously. Rather, the smooth muscles involved in peristalsis operate when they are stimulated to do so.
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Peristalsis in the Digestive Tract
Peristalsis in the Urinary Tract
Urine is also moved along through the body with the help of peristalsis. Two tubes in the urinary tract called ureters use peristalsis to move liquid from the kidneys to the bladder. This liquid then leaves the body through the urethra as urine.
Peristalsis and Motility Disorders
When peristalsis does not occur as it should, it can result in one of a group of conditions called motility disorders. In some people, peristalsis may go too quickly, known as hypermotility, or too slowly, known as hypomotility. Motility disorders can occur for a variety of reasons, including a side effect of a medication,a result of another disease process, or even for no known cause (which is called idiopathic). People withinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)may also have motility disorders, but it’s unknown at this time how these conditions may be related, and how often they may occur together.
Some examples of motility disorders include:
Frequently Asked Questions
Peristalsis begins in the pharynx (throat) when food is swallowed. It helps push food through the entire length of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee OY.Asian motility studies in irritable bowel syndrome.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16(2):120-30. doi:10.5056/jnm.2010.16.2.120Philpott HL, Nandurkar S, Lubel J, Gibson PR.Drug-induced gastrointestinal disorders.Frontline Gastroenterol. 2014;5(1):49-57. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2013-100316Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, Salemme M, Coppola M, Annese V.Gastrointestinal motility disorders in inflammatory bowel diseases.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(1):37-44. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Lynch KL.Esophageal motility disorders.Merck Manual.Martinucci I, De Bortoli N, Giacchino M, et al.Esophageal motility abnormalities in gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2014;5(2):86-96. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i2.86Parkman HP, Hallinan EK, Hasler WL, et al.Nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis: similarities and differences in idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016;28(12):1902-1914. doi:10.1111/nmo.12893National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Intestinal pseudo-obstruction.Patel KS, Thavamani A.Physiology, peristalsis. StatPearls.Additional ReadingBassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, et al. “Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.“World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jan 7; 20: 37–44. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Katsanos KH, et al. “Obstruction and Pseudo-Obstruction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.“Annals of Gastroenterology2010;23: 243-256.Kristinsson JO, Hopman WP, Oyen WJ, Drenth JP. “Gastroparesis in Patients With Inactive Crohn’s Disease: a Case Series.“BMC Gastroenterol.2007; 7:11. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-7-11
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee OY.Asian motility studies in irritable bowel syndrome.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16(2):120-30. doi:10.5056/jnm.2010.16.2.120Philpott HL, Nandurkar S, Lubel J, Gibson PR.Drug-induced gastrointestinal disorders.Frontline Gastroenterol. 2014;5(1):49-57. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2013-100316Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, Salemme M, Coppola M, Annese V.Gastrointestinal motility disorders in inflammatory bowel diseases.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(1):37-44. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Lynch KL.Esophageal motility disorders.Merck Manual.Martinucci I, De Bortoli N, Giacchino M, et al.Esophageal motility abnormalities in gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2014;5(2):86-96. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i2.86Parkman HP, Hallinan EK, Hasler WL, et al.Nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis: similarities and differences in idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016;28(12):1902-1914. doi:10.1111/nmo.12893National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Intestinal pseudo-obstruction.Patel KS, Thavamani A.Physiology, peristalsis. StatPearls.Additional ReadingBassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, et al. “Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.“World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jan 7; 20: 37–44. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Katsanos KH, et al. “Obstruction and Pseudo-Obstruction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.“Annals of Gastroenterology2010;23: 243-256.Kristinsson JO, Hopman WP, Oyen WJ, Drenth JP. “Gastroparesis in Patients With Inactive Crohn’s Disease: a Case Series.“BMC Gastroenterol.2007; 7:11. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-7-11
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lee OY.Asian motility studies in irritable bowel syndrome.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16(2):120-30. doi:10.5056/jnm.2010.16.2.120Philpott HL, Nandurkar S, Lubel J, Gibson PR.Drug-induced gastrointestinal disorders.Frontline Gastroenterol. 2014;5(1):49-57. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2013-100316Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, Salemme M, Coppola M, Annese V.Gastrointestinal motility disorders in inflammatory bowel diseases.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(1):37-44. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Lynch KL.Esophageal motility disorders.Merck Manual.Martinucci I, De Bortoli N, Giacchino M, et al.Esophageal motility abnormalities in gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2014;5(2):86-96. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i2.86Parkman HP, Hallinan EK, Hasler WL, et al.Nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis: similarities and differences in idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016;28(12):1902-1914. doi:10.1111/nmo.12893National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Intestinal pseudo-obstruction.Patel KS, Thavamani A.Physiology, peristalsis. StatPearls.
Lee OY.Asian motility studies in irritable bowel syndrome.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16(2):120-30. doi:10.5056/jnm.2010.16.2.120
Philpott HL, Nandurkar S, Lubel J, Gibson PR.Drug-induced gastrointestinal disorders.Frontline Gastroenterol. 2014;5(1):49-57. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2013-100316
Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, Salemme M, Coppola M, Annese V.Gastrointestinal motility disorders in inflammatory bowel diseases.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(1):37-44. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37
Lynch KL.Esophageal motility disorders.Merck Manual.
Martinucci I, De Bortoli N, Giacchino M, et al.Esophageal motility abnormalities in gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2014;5(2):86-96. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i2.86
Parkman HP, Hallinan EK, Hasler WL, et al.Nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis: similarities and differences in idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016;28(12):1902-1914. doi:10.1111/nmo.12893
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
Patel KS, Thavamani A.Physiology, peristalsis. StatPearls.
Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, et al. “Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.“World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jan 7; 20: 37–44. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37Katsanos KH, et al. “Obstruction and Pseudo-Obstruction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.“Annals of Gastroenterology2010;23: 243-256.Kristinsson JO, Hopman WP, Oyen WJ, Drenth JP. “Gastroparesis in Patients With Inactive Crohn’s Disease: a Case Series.“BMC Gastroenterol.2007; 7:11. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-7-11
Bassotti G, Antonelli E, Villanacci V, et al. “Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.“World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jan 7; 20: 37–44. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.37
Katsanos KH, et al. “Obstruction and Pseudo-Obstruction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.“Annals of Gastroenterology2010;23: 243-256.
Kristinsson JO, Hopman WP, Oyen WJ, Drenth JP. “Gastroparesis in Patients With Inactive Crohn’s Disease: a Case Series.“BMC Gastroenterol.2007; 7:11. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-7-11
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