CBSE CLASS 10 SCIENCE: CHAPTER 1 — LIFE
PROCESSES
Complete Master Notes & Diagram Guide • 100% NCERT Aligned (Zero Omissions)
BOARD EXAM MASTER EDITION • UNRESTRICTED COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
1. Introduction: What are Life Processes?
Definition
The basic maintenance functions of living organisms to prevent damage and breakdown, taking place continuously even
when the organism is resting or asleep, are called life processes.
Why maintenance is necessary: Living structures are made of molecules which are continuously undergoing wear and tear.
If this damage is not repaired, the organism cannot survive. Maintenance processes require energy, which comes from
outside the body of the organism.
Four Primary Life Processes:
1. Nutrition: Intake of food and its utilization for energy and growth.
2. Respiration: Breakdown of food sources to release cellular energy (ATP).
3. Transportation: Movement of oxygen, food, water, and wastes across the body.
4. Excretion: Removal of harmful metabolic wastes from the body.
2. Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of acquiring energy and nutrients required for growth, development, synthesis of body proteins, and
repair.
A. Modes of Nutrition
• Autotrophic Nutrition: Organisms synthesize their own organic food from inorganic raw materials (CO and H O)
2 2
utilizing light energy (e.g., green plants, autotrophic bacteria).
• Heterotrophic Nutrition: Organisms depend on other organisms for organic food because they cannot manufacture their
own.
◦ Holozoic Nutrition: Complex food is ingested and digested internally (e.g., humans, amoeba).
◦ Saprophytic Nutrition: Organisms feed on dead and decaying organic matter by external digestion (e.g., fungi, bread
moulds, yeast, bacteria).
◦ Parasitic Nutrition: Organisms live on or inside another living host and derive nutrients without killing it immediately
(e.g., Cuscuta, ticks, lice, tapeworms).
B. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the autotrophic process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in
carbohydrates.
CBSE Class 10 Science | Biology Chapter 1: Life Processes (Complete NCERT Notes) Page 1
6CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) + 12H2O (Water) &xrightarrow[ ext{Chlorophyll}]{ ext{Sunlight}}
C6H_{12}O6 (Glucose) + 6O2 (Oxygen) + 6H2O (Water)
Three Main Events of Photosynthesis:
1. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll pigments.
2. Conversion of light energy into chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into hydrogen ($ ext{H}_2$) and oxygen
($ ext{O}_2$).
3. Reduction of carbon dioxide ($ ext{CO}_2$) into carbohydrates (glucose).
Raw Materials Required: Sunlight, Chlorophyll (in chloroplasts), Carbon dioxide (absorbed from air through stomata), and
Water (absorbed from soil by roots).
Guard Cell (Turgid)
Stomatal Pore (Open) Stomatal Pore (Closed)
Water Enters → Swells → Pore Opens Water Leaves → Shrinks → Pore Closes
Figure 1.1: NCERT Standard Diagram — Opening and Closing of Stomatal Pore.
C. Nutrition in Amoeba
Amoeba is a unicellular eukaryotic organism exhibiting holozoic nutrition:
1. Ingestion: Temporary finger-like extensions of the cell surface called pseudopodia fuse over the food particle, forming a
food vacuole.
2. Digestion: Digestive enzymes are secreted into the food vacuole to break down complex food into simpler soluble
substances.
3. Absorption: The digested food is absorbed directly into the cytoplasm by diffusion.
4. Assimilation: Absorbed food is utilized for energy, cellular growth, and repair.
5. Egestion: Undigested waste is expelled by the rupture of the cell membrane.
CBSE Class 10 Science | Biology Chapter 1: Life Processes (Complete NCERT Notes) Page 2
D. Human Digestive System
Organ / Gland Secretions & Enzymes Detailed NCERT Function
Mouth / Buccal Initiates chemical breakdown of complex starch into maltose (simple
Saliva containing Salivary Amylase
Cavity sugar). Teeth chew & grind food; tongue mixes saliva.
Transports food from mouth to stomach through wave-like muscular
Oesophagus Mucus
contractions known as peristalsis.
HCl creates acidic medium (pH 1.5-3.5), kills bacteria, and activates
Stomach Gastric Juice: HCl, Pepsin, Mucus pepsin; Pepsin digests proteins into peptones; Mucus protects
stomach wall from acid corrosion.
Liver & Gall Emulsifies large fat globules into tiny droplets (increases surface
Bile Juice (Bile salts, no enzymes)
Bladder area for lipase action); creates alkaline medium.
Pancreatic Juice: Trypsin, Lipase, Trypsin digests proteins; Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids
Pancreas
Amylase and glycerol; Amylase digests remaining carbohydrates.
Intestinal Juice (Erepsin, Maltase, Completes final digestion: Carbohydrates → Glucose, Proteins →
Small Intestine
etc.) Amino Acids, Fats → Fatty Acids + Glycerol. Villi absorb nutrients.
Absorbs excess water from unabsorbed food residue; solid waste is
Large Intestine None
excreted via the anus through the sphincter.
3. Respiration
Respiration is the biochemical oxidation of food within cells to release energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).
A. Breakdown Pathways of Glucose
Flowchart: Breakdown of Glucose by Various Pathways
Glucose (6-Carbon molecule in Cytoplasm)
│
▼
Pyruvate (3-Carbon molecule) + Energy
┌───────────────────┼───────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
Absence of O₂ Lack of O₂ Presence of O₂
(In Yeast) (In Muscle Cells) (In Mitochondria)
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
Ethanol + CO₂ Lactic Acid CO₂ + Water
+ Energy + Energy + Large ATP
B. Human Respiratory System
Pathway of Air: Nostrils → Nasal Cavity → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea (supported by C-shaped cartilage rings) →
Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli.
Alveoli: Millions of balloon-like air sacs providing a huge surface area (approx. 80 m²) for gaseous exchange between air and
blood capillaries.
CBSE Class 10 Science | Biology Chapter 1: Life Processes (Complete NCERT Notes) Page 3
Mechanism of Breathing: During inhalation, ribs move up/out and diaphragm flattens, increasing chest volume and drawing
air in. During exhalation, ribs move down/in and diaphragm arches up, forcing air out.
4. Transportation
A. Transportation in Human Beings (Circulatory System)
• The Human Heart: Four-chambered muscular pump consisting of two thin-walled upper chambers (Atria) and two thick-
walled lower chambers (Ventricles). Septum prevents mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
• Double Circulation: Blood passes through the heart twice per cycle:
1. Pulmonary Circulation: Right Ventricle → Lungs (Oxygenation) → Left Atrium.
2. Systemic Circulation: Left Ventricle → Aorta → Body Tissues → Vena Cava → Right Atrium.
HUMAN HEART (4-Chambered)
Pulm. Veins Aorta
Left Atrium → Left Ventricle (Oxygenated)
LUNGS BODY TISSUES
Right Atrium → Right Ventricle (Deoxygenated)
Figure 4.1: Schematic Sectional View of Double Circulation in Humans.
B. Transportation in Plants
Feature Xylem Phloem
Substances
Water and dissolved minerals from roots Organic food (sucrose, amino acids)
Transported
Bidirectional (Leaves → Storage organs & growing
Direction of Flow Unidirectional (Roots → Stem → Leaves)
parts)
Transpiration pull & root pressure
Mechanism / Energy Translocation requiring metabolic energy (ATP)
(Passive)
5. Excretion
Excretion is the biological process of removing harmful nitrogenous metabolic wastes (urea, uric acid) from the body.
A. Excretion in Human Beings
Excretory System: A pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.
Nephron: The basic structural and functional filtration unit of the kidney.
CBSE Class 10 Science | Biology Chapter 1: Life Processes (Complete NCERT Notes) Page 4
High-Pressure Filtration
Selective Reabsorption (Glucose, Water, Salts)
To Ureter
Glomerulus & Bowman's Capsule Collecting Duct
Figure 5.1: NCERT Standard Structure of a Nephron showing Filtration, Reabsorption, and Urine Collection.
Three Steps of Urine Formation:
1. Glomerular Filtration: Blood is filtered under high pressure through the glomerulus into Bowman's capsule.
2. Selective Reabsorption: Useful substances like glucose, amino acids, salts, and water are reabsorbed along the renal
tubule.
3. Tubular Secretion: Remaining fluid containing urea forms urine, which passes into collecting ducts and ureters.
B. Excretion in Plants
• Oxygen generated during photosynthesis is released through stomata.
• Excess water is eliminated via transpiration.
• Wastes are stored in old leaves that fall off.
• Resins and gums are stored in old xylem tissue.
• Some waste products are excreted into the soil around them.
CBSE Class 10 Science | Biology Chapter 1: Life Processes (Complete NCERT Notes) Page 5