Which type of muscles show peristaltic movements in the gastrointestinal tract?

Options

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

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Peristaltic Movements**:
- Peristaltic movements refer to the wave-like contractions and relaxations of muscles that facilitate the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract.

2. **Identifying Muscle Types**:
- The question provides four types of muscles: striated, smooth, cardiac, and skeletal. We need to determine which of these types is responsible for peristaltic movements.

3. **Analyzing Each Muscle Type**:
- **Striated Muscles**: These include skeletal muscles, which are under voluntary control and are involved in locomotion. They do not perform peristaltic movements.
- **Smooth Muscles**: These muscles are found in the walls of hollow organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. They are involuntary and are responsible for peristaltic movements.
- **Cardiac Muscles**: These are specialized muscles found in the heart. They are also involuntary but are not involved in the gastrointestinal tract.
- **Skeletal Muscles**: Similar to striated muscles, these are involved in voluntary movements and do not contribute to peristalsis.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The type of muscle that shows peristaltic movements in the gastrointestinal tract is the **smooth muscle**.

**Final Answer**: Smooth muscles show peristaltic movements in the gastrointestinal tract.

---