Propulsion

Definition

In the context of the digestive system, propulsion is the movement of food through the digestive tract from ingestion to elimination. It involves a series of muscular contractions known as peristalsis that push food along the digestive pathway.

Related terms

Peristalsis:

Rhythmic contractions of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract that move food along during digestion.

Digestion:

The chemical and mechanical process by which food is broken down into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Absorption:

The process by which nutrients from digested food are taken up into the bloodstream from the intestines