Muscles that move food through the digestive system are which type of muscle?

• A. Cardiac
• B. Skeletal
• C. Smooth
• D. Striated

Answer: (C)

Smooth muscle drives movement through the digestive system. It forms the walls of hollow organs like the esophagus and intestines, and it contracts in slow, rhythmic waves called peristalsis to push food along. These contractions are involuntary, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, so you don’t consciously move the food. In contrast, skeletal muscle attaches to bones and is voluntary, while cardiac muscle pumps the heart and has a striped appearance. Striations are a hallmark of skeletal and cardiac muscle, not smooth muscle. That’s why smooth muscle is the type responsible for moving food through the digestive tract.