The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, large and small intestines, appendix, and rectum. Digestion begins in the mouth when food is chewed and mixed with saliva. Muscles in the esophagus push food into the stomach. Once there, it mixes with digestive juices. While in the stomach, food is broken down into nutrients, good for you, and turned into a thick liquid. The food then moves into the small intestine, where more digestive juices complete the process of breaking it down. In the small intestines, nutrients are taken into the blood and carried throughout the body. Anything left over your body cannot use goes to the large intestine. The body takes water from the leftovers. The rest is passed out of your body.

What is the initial step of the digestive process?