MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Overview. Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. It starts in the esophagus where strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle move balls of swallowed food to the stomach.

Detailed explanation-2: -Cardiac muscle, like skeletal muscle, is made up of sarcomeres that allow for contractility. However, unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is under involuntary control. The cardiac muscle is responsible for the contractility of the heart and, therefore, the pumping action.

Detailed explanation-3: -Muscle tissue is characterized by properties that allow movement. Muscle cells are excitable; they respond to a stimulus. They are contractile, meaning they can shorten and generate a pulling force.

Detailed explanation-4: -Muscle tissue is composed of cells that have the special ability to shorten or contract in order to produce movement of the body parts.