What is a bowel movement and how does it help your body digest food?

Major intestinal peristalsis is found mainly in the gastrointestinal tract and is the involuntary propulsion of food. Peristalsis begins in the pharynx, after food is formed, and ends in the anus. The gastrointestinal tract is activated by the enteric nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system activates peristalsis through the myocardium.

Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions to move food through the digestive tract. It begins in the esophagus, where strong wave-like movements of smooth muscle move swallowed food pellets down into the stomach. There, food is stirred into a liquid mixture called chyme, which then moves into the small intestine for continued peristaltic activity.
Stretching out a segment of intestine will easily see the wave-like motion. Combined motion and chyme shifting back and forth. This allows the blood to absorb nutrients through the walls of the small intestine.
In the large intestine, peristalsis helps water from undigested food be absorbed into the bloodstream. Then, the remaining waste products are excreted through the rectum and anus.

In the process of digestion, bowel movements are very important, but sometimes they do not work properly. When the body has prolonged constipation or diarrhea, it causes many signs that the bowel movements are disturbed. This condition can be caused by medication or a bowel disorder.
Peristalsis of the intestines begins from the esophagus. After bringing down the food, they move by peristalsis. At that time, the task of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine receives this process. Food is digested and broken down as it moves through the digestive tract. Besides, bile is also an extremely important part in the digestion of food. At the end of the journey through the body through peristalsis, the digested food is excreted through the anus in the form of feces.

Peristalsis are involuntary movements of the longitudinal and circular muscles, mainly in the digestive tract but sometimes in other hollow tubes of the body, occurring in gradual contractions. Peristaltic waves occur in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
In the esophagus, peristaltic waves start in the upper part of the tube and travel their entire length, pushing the food before the wave into the stomach. Food particles left behind in the esophagus initiate secondary peristaltic waves to remove residual substances. In ruminants, such as cows, retrograde peristalsis can occur so that food is returned from the stomach to the mouth.
When the stomach is full of food, the intestinal motility will be reduced and less. The presence of fat in a meal can completely stop these movements for a short time until it is diluted with gastric juice or cleared from the stomach. Peristaltic waves begin when contractions are weak at the top of the stomach and gradually become stronger if they are near the distal regions of the stomach. The waves help to mix the contents of the stomach and push the food down to the small intestine.
In the small intestine, local stimulation of intestinal smooth muscle due to the presence of food particles causes contractions that tend to go from the point of irritation in two directions. If the intestines are paralyzed by the application of drugs such as nicotine or cocaine to the intestinal wall, contractions begin. Normally, the peristaltic waves appear in the small intestine at irregular intervals and travel at varying distances.
In the large intestine, the peristaltic wave or mass movement is continuous and ascending, it steadily advances toward the end of the anal canal, pushing waste ahead of the wave. When these movements are strong enough to push the faeces into the rectum, they trigger the urge to defecate. If stools are delivered to the rectum and not evacuated from the body, they are returned to the last segment of the colon for longer storage by retrograde peristalsis. Mechanically acts as a cleaning agent to help dislodge and remove potential bacterial colonies.

Dysphagia : Esophageal motility is greatly affected because food is difficult or impossible to swallow. Esophageal spasm: Several different disorders can cause spasms of the muscles in the esophagus. Spasms can be intermittent or severe and lead to food regurgitation. Gastroesophageal reflux: This condition has been linked to reduced mobility but the link is still being studied. Gastroparesis: With this condition, the muscles of the stomach do not move food down to the small intestine. This can lead to symptoms of nausea and vomiting. There are many potential causes, but in some cases the cause is not identified. Pseudo-obstruction: An obstruction occurs when the movement of food through the intestines is obstructed by something, such as a narrow bowel or a bump in the stool. However, in this condition, there is no obstruction but the digestive system is impaired as if there is a mechanical obstruction. This is an uncommon condition. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): People with IBS may also have hypertonia, decreased motility, or both in a row. Symptoms may be constipation or diarrhea. The relevance of advocacy for the diagnosis and treatment of IBS is still poorly understood, but more research is being done. In summary, peristalsis are involuntary movements of the longitudinal and circular muscles, mainly in the digestive tract but sometimes in other hollow tubes of the body, that occur in gradual contractions. Having a bowel movement disorder will bring uncomfortable as well as serious problems for the patient. Therefore, as soon as the symptoms of gastrointestinal motility disorders are noticed, the patient should go to a reputable medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is a prestigious address trusted by many patients in performing diagnostic techniques for digestive diseases, such as chronic diarrhea, Crohn's disease, intestinal motility disorders. ... In particular, the screening techniques for gastric cancer and gastric polyps at Vinmec are performed using the Olympus CV 190 endoscope, NBI function (Narrow Banding Imaging - endoscope with narrow light frequency band) for The results of the analysis of mucosal pathology are clearer... Thanks to that, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and give a timely treatment plan. Not only has a system of modern equipment, Vinmec is also a place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses. In particular, with the space designed according to hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.

References: Vedlineplus.gov, Britannica.com, Verywellhealth.com