蠕ぜん動どう

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

peristalsis; vermiculation; worm-like crawling

Refers to the wave-like muscular contractions that move contents through the digestive tract (peristalsis), or more generally to a worm-like creeping motion. In medical contexts, 蠕動 is the standard term for peristalsis; in literary or descriptive use, it can describe any slow, wriggling movement.

• 腸ちょうの蠕ぜん動どう運うん動どうによって食たべ物ものが運はこばれる。

  Food is moved along by the peristaltic movements of the intestines.

• ミミズが蠕ぜん動どうしながら土つちの中なかへ入はいっていった。

  The earthworm crawled into the soil with a wriggling motion.