PARISTALSIS
\pˌaɹɪstˈalsɪs], \pˌaɹɪstˈalsɪs], \p_ˌa_ɹ_ɪ_s_t_ˈa_l_s_ɪ_s]\
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[Greek] A mode of muscular action observed in the alimentary canal and other tubes provided with both circular and longitudinal muscular fibres, in which a wave of contraction passes from the upper part of the tube to the lower, the part that is for the time being contracted relaxing as the wave passes on. By means of p. the contents of the tube are forced from above downward.
By Alexander Duane
Word of the day
basidiomycota
- comprises fungi bearing the spores on basidium: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi); in some classification systems considered a division of kingdom comprises fungi bearing spores on a basidium; includes Gasteromycetes (puffballs) Tiliomycetes comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts) Hymenomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, agarics bracket fungi).