National League for Nursing (NLN) Science Practice Exam

What is the process called when food travels throughout the digestive system?

1. defecation

2. contractions

3. reverse peristalsis

4. peristalsis

The correct answer is: peristalsis

The process when food travels throughout the digestive system is known as peristalsis. This is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract, beginning in the esophagus and continuing all the way to the intestines. Peristalsis is essential for the mechanical processing and movement of food, allowing for the mixing of nutrients with digestive juices and facilitating absorption. In contrast, defecation refers specifically to the elimination of waste from the body and does not involve the movement of food through the digestive system. Contractions generally refer to any muscle activity but are not specific to the coordinated movement of food as seen in peristalsis. Reverse peristalsis is the process that occurs in the event of vomiting, where the movement is in the opposite direction and does not describe the normal travel of food during digestion.