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The rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle down an esophagus is called peristalsis. The muscle contractions that help move the food down through the esophagus (and through much of the gastrointestinal tract) are called peristalticcontractions.

Interestingly, even if you are hanging upside down in a gravitational field (such as a kid hanging by his legs from the monkey bars), you can still swallow food and it will go to your stomach due to these contractions.

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12y ago

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