LIFE PROCCESES
• The processes performed by a living organism to maintain its life are called life
processes. They are important for the maintenance and survival of a living organism . If
an organism performs these functions, then it is said to be alive.
• DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIFE PROCCESES ARE:-
• 1- Nutrition
• 2-Respiration
• 3-Transportation
• 4-Excretion
1. NUTRITION
• The process of taking in food and utilizing it to produce energy is called NUTRITION.
Modes of Nutrition are
1. Autotrophic Nutrition
2. Heterotrophic Nutrition
I. Autotrophic Nutrition
• The mode of nutrition in which an organism synthesize its own food is called autotrophic
mode of nutrition. Ex- Green plants are autotrophs.
• Plants synthesize their own food with the help of inorganic raw materials (water and
CO2) in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
• Chemical Equation representing photosynthesis is:-
➢ CO2 + H2O -----> C6H12O6(glucose)+H2O+CO2.
• Plants uses this glucose to produce energy and store them in form of starch.
• Note: human beings store their food in form of glycogen.
❖ STEPS INVOLVED IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS:-
1. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.
2. Conversion of light energy into chemical energy to break down water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Hydrogen is then used to reduce CO2 into carbohydrates.
❑ CROSS SECTION PART OF LEAF
❑ EXCHANGE OF GASES IN
PLANTS:-
• In plants exchange of gases
occur through stomata.
• Stomata are majorly present on
the lower part of the leaf .
• The opening and closing of
stomata is controlled by guard
cells.
• When water flows into guard
cells they swell up which lead to
opening of stomata which
facilitate exchange of gases and
transpiration.
• When the guard cell shrinks the
stomata closes which leads to
stop in exchange of gases and
the process of transpiration.
NOTE: In some desert plants the
stomata are sunken to avoid
transpiration due to lack of water. Ex-
cactus.
❑ IS CHLOROPHYLL NECESSARY FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS:-
Only that part of leaf showed positive
iodine test which was green i.e. which
had chlorophyll. Rest if the portion did
not indicate presence of starch.
❑ IS CO2 NECESSARY FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS:-
Plant kept with KOH solution shows negative
iodine test as no glucose or starch was
formed without C02.
II. HETEROTROPHIC NUTRITION:-
• The mode of nutrition in which an organism depend on another organism for
maintenance and survival . Ex- human beings , animals
❖ TYPES OF HERTROTROPHIC NUTRITION:-
1. Holozoic nutrition – the mode of nutrition in which an organism intake the food through
an opening and break down it into smaller pieces to produce energy from simpler food.
Ex- human beings , amoeba , paramecium , herbivores , carnivores , omnivores etc.
2. 2. Saprophytic Nutrition – The mode of nutrition in which an organism fulfil its
nutritional requirement from dead and decaying matter. The saprophyte releases some
chemicals which digest the dead and decaying organism, then they feed on digested
organism. It explains the foul smell after death of an organism.
3. 3. Parasitic Nutrition – The mode of nutrition in which an organism attaches to the body
of other organism and fulfil its nutritional requirement without killing the host. Ex –
tapeworm, lice, leech etc.
❖ Nutrition in human beings:-
Nutrition in human being, like all other holozoic organism, involves intake of food and
digestion takes place inside the body. The process of digestion is a complex multi step
process and involves many organs. Digestion of food inside body starts from mouth and
end at intestine.
A. Buccal cavity/Mouth : The food
is broken down into smaller
pieces with the help of teeth so
that enzymes can act more
efficiently.
salivary glands are present on
the upper and the lower side of
the buccal cavity which secrete
saliva which contain an enzyme
called salivary amylase. It mixes
with food and digests most of
the carbohydrates and makes
food wet to make its passage
easy throughout the food pipe.
B. Oesophagus: the food passes
from here to the stomach by
rhythmic contraction and
relaxation movement known as
peristaltic movement.
It is also known as food pipe.
It is made up of muscles which
are tightly packed.
C. Stomach: it is a J shaped muscular organ which receives food after it passes through
food pipe.
• In stomach there are gastric glands which secrets 3 fluids:-
a. HCL-helps in churning and rotting of food.
• Helps in action of an enzyme known as pepsin by creating acidic medium.
• Prevents food from fermentation.
b. PEPSIN- Digest the protein.
c. MUCUS- Protects the inner lining of stomach from HCL.
• The food is then transferred to small intestine slowly through the sphincter muscle.
D. Small Intestine: It is the site of complete digestion of fats , carbohydrates and proteins.
• It receives the secretion of liver and pancreas for this work .
1. LIVER- It secrets bile juice that helps in emulsification of fats i.e. breaking large fat
globules into smaller ones.
• Bile juice helps in making food alkaline coming from stomach which helps pancreatic
enzymes to act because they require basic medium to act .
2. PANCREAS- it secretes the pancreatic juice which contains following :-
• Trypsin- digest the protein.
• Lipase- Breaks down emulsified fats.
• Pancreatic amylase- Helps in digestion of carbohydrates.
• The walls of small intestine secrete intestinal juice that finally converts fats into fatty
acids and glycerol , carbohydrates into glucose and glycogen and proteins into amino
acids
• There are numerous finger like projections present in small intestine known as villi.
• Villi increases surface area for absorption.
• Villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which carry all the absorbed and digested
food through the process of diffusion and release it into blood stream.
E. Large Intestine- Responsible for the absorption of water and minerals.
Anus- The undigested and unabsorbed waste product is thrown out by anal sphincter.
2. RESPIRATION
Respiration Breathing
• It is a chemical process. • it is a physical process
• It occurs in mitochondria. • It occurs in lungs.
• It is the utilization of oxygen to • It is just exchange of gases.
produce energy. • No energy is produced.
• Energy is produced.
❖ How do Aquatic organisms breathe ?
• Since the amount of dissolved oxygen is fairly low in water the rate of breathing of
aquatic organisms is much faster than terrestrial organisms. Fish opens their mouth and
from there water enters into gills from gills the dissolved oxygen is taken by the process
of diffusion by blood and then it is transported to all other parts of the body.
❖ Passage of air in human beings
• The air first goes into nostrils
then passes from nasal passage
the nasal passage is provided
with mucus and hairs that helps
in removing dust from air and
make it clean. From nasal
passage it passes from wind
pipe. Rings of cartilages are
present in the throat to ensure
that the wind pipe do not
collapse. From there the air
passes into lungs. After reaching
lungs the air passes into bronchi
then bronchioles and at the very
end the air reaches bag like
structures known as alveoli
where exchange of gases occurs.
❖ how do exchange of gases occurs in alveoli ?
• In alveoli exchange of gases occurs through the process of diffusion there are blood
vessels present near alveoli when we breathe the amount of oxygen in alveoli increases
and the amount of CO2 is more in blood and the amount of oxygen is less whereas the
amount of CO2 is less in alveoli so the CO2 from the blood enters alveoli and the oxygen
enters the blood stream this process repeats again and again.
• In human beings blood is not transported by diffusion instead haemoglobin do this job.
Haemoglobin is iron rich protein which is present in red blood cell that has high affinity
of carrying oxygen. It make blood look red . Haemoglobin carries oxygen to all parts of
the body.
• Note: Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than Oxygen so it is transported through
blood in dissolved form.
3. TRANSPORTATION
Transportation in Human Beings (Animals)
• Main Components in Human transportation system are:
o Heart: Muscular organ that pumps blood. It is made of cardiac muscles which
perform rhythmic contraction and relaxation throughout the life.
o Blood Vessels: Arteries, veins, and capillaries.
o Blood: Fluid connective tissue.
Double circulation : In one complete cycle the blood goes through heart twice.
In fishes they follow single circulation. One chamber of heart brings deoxygenated
blood and other send blood to gills for oxygenation. From gills the blood is transported
to their body.
Blood Vessels
• Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood to the
away from the heart (except heart (except pulmonary vein).
pulmonary artery). • Has thin wall
• Has thick walls • Has high pressure
• Has high pressure • Have valves to prevent backflow
• Do not have valves of blood.
• Capillaries: They are very thin and connect arteries to veins They facilitate exchange of
gases/nutrients between blood and organs.
• Chambers: 4 (Right
Atrium, Right Ventricle,
Left Atrium, Left
Ventricle)
• Right side: Receives
deoxygenated blood →
pumps to lungs.
• Left side: Receives
oxygenated blood from
lungs → pumps to
body.
• Valves: Prevent
backflow of blood.
Components of Blood
Component Function
RBC (Red Blood Cells) Carry oxygen via hemoglobin
WBC (White Blood Cells) Fight infection
Platelets Help in clotting of blood
Plasma Transports nutrients, hormones, etc.
4 Chamber system in human heart prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood from mixing. Human has high oxygen demand as we need energy to maintain our
body temperature apart from other daily work. We cannot afford mixing of oxygenated
and deoxygenated blood as it will reduce overall oxygen in blood.
Lymph
• Yellowish fluid; part of immune system. Lymphatic system puts back lymph into blood
vessels.
• Transports nutrients and waste.
• Maintains fluid balance.
Transportation in Plants
Transport of Water and Minerals Transport of Food
• Through xylem (only • Through phloem (bidirectional).
upward). • Process: Translocation(Transport of food
• Process: Absorption by from leaves to other part of the plants)
roots by changing ion • Uses energy (active process).
concentration → Ascent →
Transpiration
• Driven by:
o Root pressure
o Capillary action
o Transpiration pull
Transpiration
• Loss of water vapor from
stomata present in arial
part of plant which create a
suction force and pulls
water from roots upward. It
is required in tall plants to
ensure water supply for
photosynthesis
• It works in daytime. During
night plant depends on
root pressure and capillary
action.
• Functions:
o Cools the plant
o Maintains flow of
water and minerals
4. Excretion
What is Excretion?
Excretion is the biological process of removal of metabolic wastes (like urea, carbon
dioxide, excess salts, and water) from the body.
• Wastes produced during metabolism are toxic and must be removed to maintain healthy
body.
Excretory System in Humans
Main Excretory Organs:
1. Kidneys (2) – filter blood and produce urine.
2. Ureters (2) – carry urine from kidneys to urinary bladder.
3. Urinary Bladder – stores urine temporarily.
4. Urethra – expels urine from the body.
Kidney has numerous nephrons which are basic functional unit of kidney.
.
Main Excretory Organs:
5. Kidneys (2) – filter blood and
produce urine.
6. Ureters (2) – carry urine from
kidneys to urinary bladder.
7. Urinary Bladder – stores urine
temporarily.
8. Urethra – expels urine from the
body.
Kidney has numerous nephrons
which are basic functional unit
of kidney.
Nephron – The Functional
Unit of the Kidney
Each kidney has about 1 million
nephrons
Structure of a Nephron:
1. Bowman's Capsule –
surrounds the glomerulus;
filtration occurs here.
2. Glomerulus – a tuft of
capillaries; filters blood.
3. Renal Tubule – reabsorbs
water and nutrients.
4. Collecting Duct – collects
urine and passes it to
ureters.
Urine Formation Process:
Glomerular Filtration: Blood is filtered under pressure in glomerulus. Filtrate produced is
dissolved in water to form urine which passes through the U-shaped tube. Useful
substances like glucose, water, salts and amino acids are reabsorbed in U-Shaped tube.
The final fluid (mostly water, urea, salts) is called urine. Composition of Urine:
• 95% water
• 2.5% urea
• 2.5% other waste products (uric acid, salts, etc.)
Excretion in Plants
• No special organs to excrete waste; waste removal is simple:
o Oxygen (byproduct of photosynthesis) is released via stomata.
o Excess water is lost via transpiration.
o Resins and gums are stored in old xylem or bark.
o Waste is stored in Leaves, fruits, and bark which are later shed to remove waste.