TH

CLASS – 10 SCIENCE
CHAPTER 1: LIFE PROCESS
NOTES
 Life Processes
Life processes encompass a set of interconnected activities within an organism
that collectively contribute to its repair and maintenance. These crucial
processes include Respiration (R), Excretion (E), Nutrition (N), and
Transportation (T).

Nutrition
Nutrition is the transformative process by which an organism acquires external
sources of energy, commonly known as food, and transfers it internally for
sustenance and vitality.

Modes of Nutrition:
1. Autotrophic Nutrition:
Autotrophs are organisms that derive their nutrition from basic food materials
acquired from inorganic sources such as carbon dioxide and water. Notable
examples include green plants and certain bacteria.
 Autotrophic organisms fulfill their carbon and energy requirements
through photosynthesis.
 Photosynthesis is the process whereby autotrophs absorb external
substances and convert them into stored energy. This involves the
conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in the
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
 Surplus carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis are stored in the
form of starch.
 Similarly, in our bodies, a portion of the energy derived from the food we
eat is stored in the form of glycogen.
 Events Occurring during Photosynthesis:
 Chlorophyll absorbing light energy.
 Transformation of light energy into chemical energy.
 Separation of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
 Conversion of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates through reduction.
 Chlorophyll is a crucial component for the process of photosynthesis.
 The iodine test results in a blue-black coloration in the leaf regions where
photosynthesis occurs.

 How the plant obtains carbon dioxide?

 Massive gaseous exchange occurs in leaves via stomatal pores for
photosynthesis.
 Gas exchange extends across the surfaces of stems, roots, and leaves.
 Stomatal pores close to prevent excessive water loss when carbon dioxide
is not needed for photosynthesis.
 The opening and closing of stomatal pores are regulated by guardcells.
 Guard cells swell with water influx, causing stomatal pores to open.
 Conversely, the pores close when guard cells shrink.
 Stomata:
 Stomata, pores on leaves, facilitate gas exchange.
 Predominantly located on the underside of leaves.
 Guard cells, regulating pore opening and closing, safeguard each stoma.
 The functionality of guard cells is influenced by their water content.
2. Heterotrophic Nutrition:
Heterotrophs, on the other hand, rely on complex substances for their
nutritional needs. These intricate compounds must undergo breakdown into
simpler forms before being utilized for the maintenance and growth of the
organism. To facilitate this process, organisms employ bio-catalysts known as
enzymes. Animals and fungi are examples of heterotrophs.
(i). Saprophytic Nutrition: Saprophytic nutrition refers to the feeding
behavior of certain organisms that rely on consuming dead and decomposed
organic matter.
The food is partially digested outside the body, and then it is absorbed.
E.g. Fungi are saprophytes.
(ii). Parasitic Nutrition: Parasitic nutrition involves organisms feeding at
the expense of another, causing harm. Parasites live on or within a host
organism, extracting nutrients directly from the host's body.
Examples include leeches as ectoparasites, Ascaris as an endoparasite,
and Cuscuta as a parasitic plant.
(iii). Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition, the digestion happens inside
the body of the organism. i.e., after the food is ingested. Most of the animals
follow this mode of nutrition.

 How do Organisms obtain their Nutrition?

 Nutrition in Amoeba:
 Amoeba engulfs food through temporary extensions of its cell surface,
creating a food- vacuole as these extensions merge over the food particle.
 Within the food-vacuole, complex substances undergo breakdown into
simpler ones, facilitating their diffusion into the cytoplasm.
 Undigested material is transported to the cell surface and expelled by
Amoeba.
 Nutrition in Paramoecium:
 Paramoecium, a unicellular organism, maintains a distinct shape and ingests
food at a designated location.
 The entire cell surface, covered with cilia, facilitates the movement of
food to the specified intake spot.

 Nutrition in Human Beings:

 The alimentary canal is a lengthy tube running from the mouth to the
anus.
 Salivary glands secrete saliva, which contains the enzyme salivary
amylase, breaking down complex starch into simple sugars.
 Muscles lining the canal contract rhythmically, facilitating peristaltic
movements that push food forward throughout the digestive system.
 Digestion in the stomach:
 Gastric glands within the stomach wall secrete hydrochloric acid, the
enzyme pepsin, and mucus.
 Hydrochloric acid establishes an acidic environment, enhancing the
effectiveness of the protein-digesting enzyme, pepsin.
 Under normal conditions, mucus shields the stomach's inner lining from
the corrosive effects of the acid.
 Pepsin functions as a protein-digesting enzyme.
 The release of food from the stomach into the small intestine is
regulated by a sphincter muscle, allowing controlled passage in small
amounts.
 Length of small intestine:
 Herbivores, such as those consuming grass, require an elongated small
intestine to facilitate the digestion of cellulose.
 Carnivores, like tigers, with a diet of easily digestible meat, possess
shorter small intestines.
 The small intestine serves as the location for the thorough digestion of
carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
 Secretions from the liver and pancreas contribute to the digestive
processes occurring in the small intestine.
 Bile juice from the liver:
 Bile salts play a role in emulsifying fats, breaking large fat globules into
smaller ones, thereby enhancing the efficiency of pancreatic enzymes.
 The initially acidic food entering the small intestine undergoes alkalization
through the action of bile juice, promoting the effectiveness of
pancreatic enzymes.
 pancreatic juice from the pancreas:
 Pancreatic juice includes enzymes such as trypsin, responsible for protein
digestion, and lipase, which is involved in breaking down emulsified fats.
 The small intestine walls house glands producing intestinal juice.
 Enzymes in the intestinal juice convert proteins to amino acids, complex
carbohydrates to glucose, and fats to fatty acids and glycerol.
  The inner lining of the small intestine has numerous finger-like
projections called villi.
 Functions of Villi:
 Enhances the surface area available for absorption.
 Villi are abundantly supplied with blood vessels, facilitating the
distribution of absorbed nutrients to every cell in the body.
 Unabsorbed food is directed to the large intestine, where its walls
extract additional water from the material.

Respiration
The process by which a living being utilises the food to get energy, is called
respiration. Respiration is an oxidation reaction in which carbohydrate is
oxidized to produce energy.
Mitochondria is the site of respiration and the energy released is stored in the
form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is stored in mitochondria and is
released as per need.

Steps of respiration
 The breakdown of glucose into pyruvate occurs in the cytoplasm. During
this process, a glucose molecule, with 6 carbon atoms, is transformed into
pyruvic acid, which consists of 3 carbon atoms.
 Fate of Pyruvic Acid in Mitochondria: Pyruvic acid undergoes further
breakdown within the mitochondria, and the resulting molecules vary
based on the type of respiration specific to the organism. Respiration is
categorized into two types: aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
 Respiration involves:
 Gaseous exchange: Intake of oxygen from the atmosphere and
release of CO2 → Breathing.
 Breakdown of simple food in order to release energy inside the cell
→ Cellular respiration

Types of Respiration
1. Aerobic Respiration:
Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen. Pyruvic acid undergoes
conversion into carbon dioxide, releasing energy, and culminating in the
formation of water molecules.
2. Anaerobic Respiration:
Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen. Pyruvic acid is
converted into either ethyl alcohol or lactic acid. Ethyl alcohol typically forms
in microbes such as yeast or bacteria during anaerobic respiration. Lactic acid
is produced in certain microbes and muscle cells during this process.
 Pain in leg muscles while running:
 Intense running triggers anaerobic respiration in muscle cells, driven by an
increased demand for energy.
 The process of anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid, contributing to
a throbbing pain in the leg muscles.
 Resting after the activity helps alleviate the pain caused by the
deposition of lactic acid in the muscles.
 ATP:
 ATP serves as the energy currency within cells.
 ATP is an acronym for Adenosine Tri-Phosphate.
 This molecule is generated as a byproduct of reactions such as
photosynthesis and respiration.
 The three phosphate bonds in ATP are high-energy bonds, and their
breaking releases a substantial amount of energy.
 The released energy is subsequently utilized for various metabolic
reactions.

Respiration in Humans
 The human respiratory system is a complex network crucial for breathing,
gas exchange, and cellular respiration.
 A well-organized respiratory system is essential for efficient breathing
and gas exchange.
 Breathing involves inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.
 Gas exchange occurs in the lungs, where oxygen is supplied to all cells in
the body.
 Cellular respiration takes place in every cell, contributing to overall energy
production and cellular function.

 Respiratory System:
 The human respiratory system involves the nose, nasal cavities, pharynx,
larynx, trachea/windpipe, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli.
 Bronchioles and alveoli are enclosed in a pair of lungs.
 The rib cage, muscles associated with the rib cage and diaphragm all help
in the inhalation and exhalation of gases.
 The exchange of gases takes place between an alveolar surface and
surrounding blood vessels.
 Alveoli provide a large surface area for the exchange of gases.
 Inhalation and Exhalation:
 Inhalation is the process of taking in air rich in oxygen.
 Exhalation is the process of expelling air rich in carbon dioxide.
 A single breath involves both inhalation and exhalation.
 Individuals breathe multiple times throughout the day.
 The frequency of breaths in one minute is referred to as the breathing
rate.
  Cellular Respiration:
 Cellular respiration involves a series of metabolic reactions within cells,
transforming the biochemical energy derived from food into a chemical
compound known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Respiration in Plants
 In contrast to animals and humans, plants lack specialized structures for
gaseous exchange.
 Gaseous exchange in plants occurs through stomata in leaves and lenticels
in stems.
 Plant roots, stems, and leaves exhibit a considerably lower respiratory
rate compared to animals.

Transportation
All living organisms, including animals, rely on essential components like air,
water, and food for survival, obtained through processes such as breathing,
drinking, and eating.
Transportation systems, like vascular tissue in plants and specialized
circulatory systems in animals, facilitate the distribution of necessary
substances to cells and tissues.

Transportation in Humans
 The circulatory system in humans serves as the primary transportation
mechanism.
 Comprising blood, blood vessels, and the heart, it facilitates the supply of
oxygen and nutrients while eliminating carbon dioxide and other excretory
products.
 Additionally, the circulatory system plays a vital role in the body's immune
response, aiding in the fight against infections.
 Heart
 It is a muscular organ, which is composed of cardiac muscles.
 The heart, compact enough to fit within an adult's wrist, serves as a vital
pumping organ for blood circulation.
 Comprising four chambers—right atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle,
and left atrium—the human heart orchestrates the rhythmic processes of
systole (contraction of cardiac muscles) and diastole (relaxation of
cardiac muscles).
 Through systole and diastole, the heart efficiently propels and circulates
blood, ensuring essential oxygen and nutrients reach the body's tissues
and organs.
 Arteries
 Thick-walled blood vessels transport oxygenated blood from the heart to
various organs, with the exception of pulmonary arteries.
 Pulmonary arteries deviate from the norm by carrying deoxygenated blood
from the heart to the lungs, where the blood undergoes oxygenation.
 Veins
 These are thin-walled blood vessels which carry deoxygenated blood from
different organs to the heart, pulmonary veins are exceptions because
they carry oxygenated blood from lungs to the heart.
 Valves are present in veins to prevent back flow of blood.
 Capillaries
 They are blood vessels distinguished by their single-cell walls.
  Blood
Blood, a connective tissue, functions as the carrier for various substances in
the body and is comprised of three main components:
 Blood Plasma: This is a light-colored fluid primarily composed of
water, constituting the matrix of blood.
 Blood Cells: There are two main types of blood cells: Red Blood Cells
(RBCs) and White Blood Cells (WBCs).
 Red Blood Cells (RBCs): These cells are red due to the presence of the
pigment hemoglobin. Hemoglobin readily binds with oxygen and carbon
dioxide, facilitating the transport of oxygen. Additionally, a portion of
carbon dioxide is transported through hemoglobin.
 White Blood Cells (WBCs): These cells are pale white and play a crucial
role in the immune system.
 Platelets: Responsible for blood coagulation, platelets serve as a
defense mechanism preventing excessive blood loss in the event of an
injury.

 Lymph
 Lymph resembles blood but lacks red blood cells (RBCs).
 Formed from leaked fluid in tissues, lymph is collected by lymph vessels
and returns to blood capillaries.
 Lymph, a yellowish fluid with fewer proteins than blood, plays a vital role
in the immune system.
 It flows from tissues to the heart, assisting in transportation and germ
destruction.
 Double circulation:
 The heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, pumps it to various
parts of the body, and then receives it back for another circulation.
 Consequently, the blood completes a full round through the body, passing
once through the right half as deoxygenated blood and once through the
left half as oxygenated blood.

Transportation in Plants
 Transportation is a crucial process in plants.
 It encompasses the movement of water and essential nutrients
throughout the plant to support its survival.
 Plants conduct the transportation of food and water through distinct
pathways.
 Xylem is responsible for transporting water.
 Phloem, on the other hand, is dedicated to the transportation of food.
 Transport of water:
 Root cells in contact with the soil actively absorb ions, establishing a
concentration difference between the root and the soil.
 Water moves into the root from the soil to equalize this ion concentration
difference. Additionally, the evaporation of water molecules from leaf
cells generates suction, drawing water from the xylem cells in the roots.
 Transpiration:
 Transpiration refers to the loss of water in vapor form from the plant's
aerial parts.
 This process aids in the absorption and upward transport of water and
dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves, contributing to
temperature regulation.
 Transport of food and other substances:
 The movement of soluble products resulting from photosynthesis is
termed translocation, and it takes place within the vascular tissue section
called the phloem.
 Energy is harnessed to accomplish translocation in the phloem.
 Substances such as sucrose are actively transferred into phloem tissue,
utilizing energy derived from ATP.

 Xylem:
 Transports water and minerals from the roots to various parts of the
plant.
 No energy is used.
 Phloem:
 Transports the products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts
of the plant.
 Energy is used from ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Excretion
  The human excretory system comprises two kidneys, two ureters, a
urinary bladder, and a urethra.
 Animals exhibit an advanced and specialized excretory system.
 In contrast, plants lack a well-developed excretory system similar to that
of animals.
 Plants do not possess specialized organs for excretion.
 Consequently, excretion in plants is not as complex as it is in animals.

Human Excretory System

 The human excretory system consists of a pair of kidneys.
 Each kidney is connected to the urinary bladder by a tube called the
ureter.
 Urine is gathered in the urinary bladder and expelled through the urethra
as needed
 Excretory system of human beings includes:
A pair of kidneys, A urinary bladder, A pair of the ureter, A urethra.

 Kidney:
 The kidney, a bean-shaped organ, is situated near the vertebral column in
the abdominal cavity.
 Comprising numerous filtering units known as nephrons.
 The nephron is recognized as the functional unit of the kidney.
 Nephron:
 Nephrons are the structural and functional unit of kidney.
 Each kidney comprises millions of nephrons, serving as the fundamental
structural and functional unit.
 A nephron consists of two parts: the Malpighian body and the renal tubule.
 The Malpighian body includes Bowman's capsule, a cup-like structure, and
the glomerulus, a cluster of capillaries.
 Working collaboratively, they filter waste materials and various useful
substances.
 The renal tubule features three regions: proximal convoluted tubule, Loop
of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule.
 These regions absorb useful substances back into the blood and filter the
remaining waste substances.
 The collective output from nephrons is termed urine.

 Haemodialysis:
 Kidney failure leads to complications, and to address this, the technology
of dialysis has been developed.
 Dialysis employs a machine filter known as a dialyzer or artificial kidney.
 The purpose is to eliminate excess water and salt, balance electrolytes,
and remove metabolic waste products.
 Blood is extracted from the body and passes through tubes with a
semipermeable membrane.
 On the other side of the membrane, a dialysate flows, drawing impurities
through the membrane.

Excretion in Plants
 Cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and metabolic reactions in plants
result in the production of various excretory products.
 Major plant excretory products include carbon dioxide, excess water
from respiration, and nitrogenous compounds from protein metabolism.
 Plants release two gaseous waste products: oxygen during photosynthesis
and carbon dioxide during respiration.
 Gaseous waste excretion in plants occurs through stomatal pores on
leaves.
 Oxygen released during photosynthesis is utilized for respiration, while
carbon dioxide from respiration is used for photosynthesis.
 Excess water is excreted through transpiration.
 Plants store organic by-products in different forms in various parts,
including gums, oils, latex, and resins.
 These waste products are stored in plant parts like bark, stems, leaves,
etc., and are eventually shed off.
 Examples of plant excretory products include orange oil, eucalyptus oil,
jasmine oil, latex from rubber trees, papaya trees, and gums from acacia.
 At times, plants release excretory substances into the soil.