MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -It starts in the esophagus where strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle move balls of swallowed food to the stomach. There, the food is churned into a liquid mixture called chyme that moves into the small intestine where peristalsis continues.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gastrointestinal peristalsis involves the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. The peristaltic movement of smooth muscle may also be found elsewhere throughout the body, including within the ureters, vas deferens, bile ducts, and glandular ducts.

Detailed explanation-3: -Esophageal peristalsis consists of sequential contraction of the circular muscles of the muscularis propria, which is largely mediated by acetylcholine. This sequential contraction serves to occlude the esophageal lumen and push the bolus aborally.

Detailed explanation-4: -Peristalsis squeezes your esophageal muscles from top to bottom. This pushes food and liquid along. If you could see peristalsis, it would look like a wave passing down your esophagus. To keep food and liquids moving in the right direction, your digestive tract has special muscles along its course called sphincters.

Detailed explanation-5: -Primary peristalsis is initiated by a swallow and is the main source of esophageal transit whereas distension-induced or secondary peristalsis functions to maintain an empty esophagus by clearing refluxate from the stomach [1] in the absence of swallowing.