Chapter 6 : Life Processes

Points to remember

Life processes – All the activities carried out by an organism to maintain life on earth is called life processes .It
includes nutrition, respiration, transportation/circulation, excretion, control and coordination, reproduction

*Nutrition –The way an organism obtains nutrients for their growth and survival is called nutrition

*There are two modes of nutrition -1. Autotrophic nutrition 2. Heterotrophic nutrition

Autotrophic nutrition – It is a type of nutrition in which the organism prepares its own food (organic) using
simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water in the presence of chlorophyll and sunlight.

Such organisms which are capable of autotrophic nutrition is called autotrophs -Eg Green plants , Cyanobacteria

Heterotrophic nutrition – It is a type of nutrition in which the organism is dependent on plants or other organisms
to get the nutrients-Eg – All organisms other than plants and autotrophic bacteria

Types of heterotrophic nutrition –

[Link] nutrition – It is a type of nutrition in which the organisms obtain their food from dead and decaying
organic [Link] break down the food outside their body and absorb it Eg fungi like bread moulds, yeast and
mushrooms

[Link] nutrition– It is a type of nutrition in which organism derives its food from the body of another living
organism known as host. They can derive the nutrition either from plants or [Link]- cuscuta (amar-bel), ticks,
lice, leeches and tape-worms.

[Link] nutrition – It is a type of nutrition in which organism takes the whole food materials and break it down
inside their [Link] – Amoeba, Paramecium , all vertebrates including human beings. There are different steps in
holozoic nutrition .They are

[Link], [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]

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Autotrophic Nutrition

• Carbon and energy requirements of the autotrophic organism are fulfilled by photosynthesis
• Plants synthesise carbohydrates from inorganic substances carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll.
• Plants store excess carbohydrates in the form of starch as internal energy reserve , animals store excess
carbohydrates as glycogen
Photosynthesis and its chemical equation

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 Events occuring in photosynthesis

(i) Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.

(ii) Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
(iii) Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.
Note – Oxygen is released from water and glucose (carbohydrate) is formed from carbon dioxide

• Desert plants take up carbon dioxide at night and prepare an intermediate which is acted upon by the energy
absorbed by the chlorophyll during the day.

• Learn the labels of the above diagram

• Chloroplasts are the organelles in the cells of green plants which contain chlorophyll and it in chloroplast
photosynthesis takes place.
• Stomata are tiny pores present on the surface of the leaves. They help in massive exchange of gases for the purpose
of photosynthesis
• Stomata helps in transpiration (loss of water through the stomatal pores).
• Plants closes these pores when it does not need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
• Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata. The opening and closing of the pore is a function of the guard
cells.
• The guard cells swell when water flows into them, causing the stomatal pore to [Link] water is lost from the
guard cells , guard cells shrink and stomata will be closed.

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 Nutrition in amoeba

Steps in nutrition cycle or process of nutrition -Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion

• In single-celled organisms, the food may be taken in by the entire surface.

• For example, Amoeba takes in food using temporary finger-like extensions of the cell surface which fuse over
the food particle forming a food-vacuole.
• Inside the food vacuole, complex substances are broken down into simpler ones which then diffuse into the
cytoplasm. The remaining undigested material is moved to the surface of the cell and thrown out.

Nutrition in Paramecium

• In Paramoecium, which is also a unicellular organism, the cell has a definite shape and food is taken in at a specific
spot. Food is moved to this spot by the movement of cilia which cover the entire surface
Nutrition in Human Beings

• Heterotrophic organisms use complex organic substances to derive energy. These complex substances have to be
broken down into simpler ones before they can be used for the upkeep and growth of the body. To achieve this,
organisms use bio-catalysts called enzymes.
Human Digestive system

• Human digestive system consists of alimentary canal and associated glands (salivary gland, liver and pancreas)
• Alimentary canal is long tube extending from mouth to anus
• Digestion begins in the mouth and gets completed in the small intestine.
• In the mouth food gets mixed with saliva secreted by salivary gland.
• Saliva contains a salivary enzyme, salivary amylase (ptyalin) which breaks down starch into maltose
• The food from the mouth cavity passes into stomach through the oesophagus.
• The gastric gland of the stomach secretes gastric juices which contains hydrochloric acid, protein digesting
enzyme pepsin and mucus.
• Hydrochloric acid provides an acidic medium for pepsin to digest proteins present in the food to smaller forms.
It also helps to kill any harmful microorganisms that enter along with the food.
• Mucus helps to protect the wall of the stomach from the effects of hydrochloric acid.

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• From the stomach partially digested food enters the small intestine
• The small intestine receives the secretions of two glands such as liver and pancreas.
• Liver secretes a digestive juice, bile which is normally stored in gall bladder.
• Bile does not contain any digestive enzyme. Bile makes the acidic food coming from stomach alkaline for
pancreatic enzymes to act upon. It also contains bile salts which helps in emulsification of fats.(breaking of big
fat globules into small molecules for enzyme to act and digest them)
• Pancreatic juice contains digestive enzymes such as pancreatic amylase ,trypsin and lipase which breaks down
starch , proteins and emulsified fat respectively.
• The walls of small intestine contain glands which secrete intestinal juices. Intestinal juice contains a number of
enzymes which complete the digestion of complex carbohydrates into glucose, proteins into amino acids and
fats into fatty acid and glycerol.
• After digestion the digested food passes through the walls of small intestine into the blood stream. Villi present
in the small intestine help in increasing the surface area for absorption.
• The blood carries the digested food to all parts of the body where it becomes assimilated as a part of the cell.
• The undigested food goes to large intestine. The walls of the large intestine absorbs most of the water from the
undigested food.
→ The digested food which is not used by our body is stored in the liver in the form of carbohydrates called
glycogen. This stored glycogen can be used as a source of energy by the body as and when required.
→ Villi – They are tiny finger like projections found in the inner walls of small intestine for absorbing the
digested food. The presence of villi increases the surface area of the small intestine for the rapid
absorption of the digested food.

Peristalsis – it is the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of walls of the alimentary canal which pushes the food
forward.

*Digestive glands and their enzymes

Name of the Secretion Site of action Enzymes End product

gland secreted
[Link] Saliva Buccal cavity/Mouth Salivary Converts starch into
glands amylase sugar(maltose)

[Link] glands Gastric juice Stomach Pepsin Converts proteins into simpler
HCl forms (peptones)
Mucus
[Link] Bile Small Emulsification of fats
Intestine(Duodenum)
[Link] Pancreatic Small *Pancreatic *converts starch into simple
juice Intestine(Duodenum) amylase sugar
*Trypsin *converts protein to simpler
forms of amino acids
(peptides)
*Lipase *converts fats into simpler
forms
[Link] Intestinal juice Small Intestine *Proteins into amino acid
glands *complex carbohydrate into
glucose
*fats into fatty acid and
glycerol

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• The length of the small intestine differs in various animals depending on the food they eat.
• Herbivores eating grass need a longer small intestine to allow the cellulose to be digested.
• Meat is easier to digest, hence carnivores like tigers have a shorter small intestine.
• The exit of food from the stomach is regulated by a sphincter muscle which releases it in small amounts into the
small intestine.
• The exit of this waste material is regulated by the anal sphincter.

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Respiration

*Cellular respiration: The process of taking in oxygen, using it for breaking down of food(glucose) to release
energy and eliminating carbon dioxide is called as cellular respiration or respiration

*Differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration

differences between photosynthesis and respiration

Photosynthesis Respiration
[Link] is an anabolic process in which food [Link] is a catabolic process in which food
substances are synthesised substances are broken down
[Link] uses carbon dioxide to synthesis the food [Link] uses oxygen to oxidise the food substances
and releases oxygen and release carbon dioxide and energy
[Link] occurs only in the presence of light [Link] occurs at all times of day and night.

*Differences between Breathing and Respiration

Breathing Respiration
[Link] is a process of exchanging gases [Link] is the process of breaking down food to
release energy
[Link] is no release of energy [Link] is release of energy at the end of the
process
[Link] is a physical process [Link] is a biochemical process
[Link] takes place between the organism and its [Link] takes place inside the cells
environment

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*Break down of glucose by various pathways.(pg 102 NCERT) (Very Important)

Fermentation

*ATP: It is a nitrogenous compound ,Adenosine Triphosphate. The energy released during cellular respiration is
immediately used to synthesise a molecule called ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. ATP is used to fuel all
activities in the cell. Therefore it is said to be energy currency.

Respiration in plants

• In plants exchange of gases occurs across the surface of stems, roots and leaves as well. Exchange of gases take place
through diffusion.
• At night, when there is no photosynthesis occurring, CO2 elimination is the major exchange activity going on.
• During the day,CO2 generated during respiration is used up for photosynthesis, hence there is no CO2 release. Instead,
oxygen release is the major event at this time
• Fishes take in water through their mouths and force it past the gills where the dissolved oxygen is taken up by blood.

Respiration in Aquatic Animals

Terrestrial animals can breathe the oxygen in the atmosphere, but animals that live in water need to use the oxygen
dissolved in water.
The rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial organisms, Since the amount of
dissolved oxygen is fairly low compared to the amount of oxygen in the air
*Human respiratory System

• In human beings , air is taken into the body through the nostrils.
• The air passing through the nostrils is filtered by fine hairs that line the passage.

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• The passage is also lined with mucus which helps in this process.
• From here, the air passes through the throat and into the lungs.
• Rings of cartilage are present in the throat. These ensure that the air-passage does not collapse
• Nostrils→ Nasal cavity→ Pharynx→Larynx→Trachea→Bronchi→Bronchioles→alveoli (lungs)(Inhalation pathway),
Exhalation pathway is reverse
• Exchange of gases takes place at alveoli
• The walls of the alveoli contain an extensive network of blood-vessels.
• During the breathing cycle, when air is taken in and let out, the lungs always contain a residual volume
of air so that there is sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be released.
[Link]

[Link]

Transportation of respiratory gases

• In unicellular animals like amoeba, exchange of gases takes place via diffusion
• In higher multicellular organisms, respiratory pigments take up oxygen from the air in the lungs and carry it to
tissues which are deficient in oxygen before releasing it.
• In human beings, the respiratory pigment is haemoglobin which has a very high affinity for oxygen.
• This pigment is present in the red blood corpuscles.
• Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than oxygen is and hence is mostly transported in the dissolved form in our
blood.

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Mechanism of breathing

Inhalation:

• During inhalation the ribcage expands.

• It moves upwards and outwards.
• The diaphragm contacts and moves downwards.
• The chest cavity/thoracic cavity expands.
• The volume of chest cavity increases and air pressure inside it decreases. So air moves from outside to
inside .

Exhalation :

• During exhalation the ribcage comes back to its original size.

• Ribcage moves downwards and inwards.
• The diaphragm moves upwards.
• The chest cavity/thoracic cavity contracts.
• The volume inside the chest cavity decreases and air pressure inside it increases. So air is pushed
outwards.

Transportation

• Circulatory system consists of heart, blood and blood vessels

• Blood is a fluid connective tissue.
• Blood consists of a fluid medium/ matrix called plasma in which the cells are suspended.
• Plasma transports food, carbon dioxide and nitrogenous wastes in dissolved form.
• RBCs transport oxygen is carried by
• WBCs protect our body against disease causing germs
• Platelets help to clot the blood whenever there is an injury
Heart
• It is a muscular organ
• It has four chambers to prevent the oxygen-rich blood from mixing with the blood containing carbon dioxide
• Blood rich in carbon dioxide is sent to the lungs for oxygenation and oxygenated blood is returned back to the
heart
• to be pumped to all parts of the body
Flow of blood through human heart

[Link] right atrium/auricle receives deoxygenated blood from all parts of the body through large veins called vena
cava

[Link] the atrium is full of blood it contracts and blood is forced into the right ventricle

[Link] right ventricle contracts , blood is forced into the pulmonary artery which carries the blood to the lungs
for oxygenation.

[Link] oxygenated blood returns to the left auricle via the pulmonary veins.

[Link] the left auricle contracts, the blood passes into the left ventricle.

[Link] contraction of the left ventricle ,the blood is pumped into the largest artery called aorta

[Link] aorta branches into vessels which transport blood to heart and all body parts.

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Flow of blood through the heart

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*Double circulation in human beings

When the blood passes through the heart twice in one complete cycle of the body, it is called double circulation. It
involves two circulations

i)Pulmonary circulation – this circulation is maintained by the right side of the heart. In this type of circulation
blood, flows from heart to lungs and back to the heart.

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 • It begins in the right ventricle which pumps blood into the pulmonary artery for oxygenation.
• The oxygenated blood returns back to the heart from lungs through pulmonary veins.

ii)Systemic Circulation – this circulation is maintained by the left side of the heart. In this type of circulation
blood flows from heart to the rest of the body and back to the heart.

• It begins in the left ventricle which pumps blood into the aorta .Aorta supplies oxygenated blood to all
parts of the body,
• From there, the deoxygenated blood is collected by veins and finally vena cava pour blood back into the
heart.

*Learn the differences between arteries, veins and capillaries

Capillaries – function – Exchange of materials such as nutrients, chemical substances and gases between the blood
and the cells occurs in the capillaries.

*Blood pressure – Systolic pressure and diastolic pressure

*Learn the functions of lymph

*Learn the functions of plasma, RBC, WBC and blood platelets (components of blood)

*Diagram - Structure of the human heart, Fig 6.10 ,6.11 (NCERT)

*Learn how water is transported in plants through xylem

*Learn how food is transported in plants through phloem

Importance of transpiration

• It helps in the upward movement of water and minerals (ascent of sap)

• It helps to remove excess water
• It helps to regulate the temperature of the plant.
• It helps to absorb and distribute salts

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Translocation : The process of transporting food manufactured in the leaves during photosynthesis to other parts
of the plant is called translocation.

*Human excretory system

Kidneys – It is the main excretory organ. Each kidney is bean shaped. The renal artery brings in dirty blood to the
kidney and renal vein carries the clean blood away from the kidney,

Functions of kidney

• It removes poisonous substances such as urea,excess salt and water from the blood and excrete it in the
form of urine
• It regulates water balance of the blood
• It regulates pH of blood

Structure of Nephrons

• Each kidney is made of large number of filtration units called nephrons. They are considered as the
functional unit of the kidney.
• The nephron has a cup shaped bag at its upper end called Bowman’s capsule and lower end of Bowman’s
capsule is tube shaped and is called tubule.
• Bowman’s capsule and tubule together make up nephrons.
• Bowman’s capsule contains a bundle of blood capillaries called glomerulus. One end of glomerulus is
attached to the renal artery which brings the dirty blood and the other end of the glomerulus comes out
of Bowman’s capsule as a blood capillary and surrounds the tubules.
• The function of glomerulus is to filter blood passing through it
• The function of tubular part of nephron is to allow selective reabsorption of the useful substances into
the blood capillaries.

Formation of urine

The purpose of urine is to filter out waste products from the blood .

• The nitrogenous waste such as urea and uric acid are removed from blood in the kidneys.
• The dirty blood brought by renal artery enters the glomerulus.
• The glomerulus filters this blood.
• During filtration, substances like glucose ,amino acids, salts ,water and urea etc present in the blood pass
into Bowman’s capsule and then enter into tubule of nephron
• When the filtrate containing useful substances as well as waste substances passes through tubule ,then
the useful substance like glucose, amino acids, most salts and water etc are reabsorbed into the blood
through the blood capillaries surrounding the tubule.
• Wastes substances like urea, unwanted salts and excess water remain behind in the tubule.
• The liquid left behind in the tubule of the nephron is urine.
• Nephron carries this urine into the collecting duct of the kidney from where it is carried to ureter.
• From the ureter the urine passes into the urinary bladder.
• Urine is stored in the bladder for some time and it is passed out of the body through urethra.

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Artificial kidney/Hemodialysis/ Dialysis

• The patients with kidney failure is treated periodically on a kidney machine. The blood is passed through
an artificial kidney machine to remove waste substances such as urea. This process is known as dialysis.

Artificial kidney is a device to remove nitrogenous waste products from the blood through dialysis.

• It contains a number of tubes with a semi permeable lining suspended in a tank filled with dialysing fluid.
• The blood from an artery in patient’s arm is made to flow through these tubes.
• Dialysing fluid has same osmotic pressure as that of the blood.
• As the blood passes through the tubes, waste products from the blood pass into dialysing fluid by
diffusion.
• The clean blood is pumped back into vein of the patient’s arm.

Learn fig 6.13,14

Learn excretory products of plants

Learn the NCERT text book thoroughly.

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Experiments

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