‖ peristalsis Physiol.
(pɛrɪˈstælsɪs)
[mod.L., repr. a. Gr. περίσταλσις, cf. περισταλτ-ικός in next.]
Peristaltic movement: see next.
| 1859 Todd Cycl. Anat. & Phys. V. 313/1 A peristalsis..which sets out from the cardiac extremity. 1875 H. C. Wood Therap. (1879) 38 Diarrhœa, due to a violently increased peristalsis. 1878 Foster Phys. i. iv. §4. 142 In a twisted tube like that of the vertebrate ventricle, ordinary peristalsis would be impotent to drive the blood onward. |