Unlike peristalsis, which predominates in the esophagus, segmentation contractions occur in the large intestine and small intestine, while predominating in the latter. While peristalsis involves one-way motion in the caudal direction, segmentation contractions move chyme in both directions, which allows greater mixing with the secretions of the intestines.
Unlike the muscular contractions that govern food passage through the esophagus, segmentation contractions are characteristic of the large and small intestines. These contractions enable the exchange of chyme with intestinal secretions in both directions, a process that is distinct from the unidirectional movement of peristalsis.