Peristalsis is the term used to describe how muscle layers
contract and expand in order to move food throughout the digestive system. From the mouth, the food goes through the
esophagus, into the stomach, then through the small and large intestines until
it finally comes out the rectum. During
this process, the small intestine absorbs nutrients which are moved into the
blood stream by way of “vili”, or small projections in the small intestines, which
contain dedicated cells to assist in the process.
