Which type of muscle tissue is responsible for moving food through the digestive system?

Smooth muscle tissue is responsible for moving food through the digestive system due to its involuntary control and specific properties. This type of muscle is found in the walls of hollow organs, including the intestines and the stomach. It contracts rhythmically and involuntarily, facilitating peristalsis, which is the wave-like action that pushes food along the digestive tract.

In contrast, skeletal muscle tissue is under voluntary control and is primarily associated with movements of the skeleton rather than the functions of internal organs. Cardiac muscle tissue, which makes up the heart, is also involuntary but is specialized for pumping blood rather than processing food. While muscle fibers can refer to elements within both skeletal and smooth muscle, they do not specifically identify the type of muscle responsible for digestion. Thus, smooth muscle tissue is the correct choice for its essential role in efficiently moving food through the digestive system.