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n. pl. per·i·stal·ses (-sēz) The wavelike muscular contractions of the digestive tract or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening. [New Latin, from Greek peristaltikos, peristaltic, from peristellein, to wrap around : peri-, peri- + stellein, to place; see stel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] per′i·staltic (-stôltĭk, -stăl-) adj. per′i·stalti·cal·ly adv. |
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