Relating to or describing motion that is constrictive or causes something to be pressed downward or compressed.
From Greek 'kata' (down) + 'staltic' (from 'stellein,' to set, place, or compress). This medical/physiological term describes muscular contractions that move materials downward through organs.
The same Greek root that gives us 'peristalsis' (the wave-like motion that moves food through your digestive system) appears here—your body is constantly doing this catastaltic motion to push everything in the right direction.
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