Class 10 Science Chapter 5 - Life Processes

life processes
If an organism is alive, it must keep repairing and maintaining its structures. The maintenance functions of
living organisms must go on even when they are not doing anything particular. The processes which together
perform this maintenance job are called life processes.

Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of intake of nutrients (like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and
water) by an organism as well as the utilisation of these nutrients by the organism.

nutriation

hetrotrophic nutrition
autotrophic nutrition
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1. Photoautotrophic
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Autotrophic Nutrition
 It is the process by which organisms take in simple inorganic substances from outside and use them
to synthesise organic molecules and then convert into stored forms of energy.
 For example green plants prepare their food by using carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
chlorophyll and sunlight.
 The organisms having autotrophic mode of nutrition or can make their own food are called
autotrophs or autotrophic organisms.
 Examples : Green plants and some bacteria.
 Photoautotrophic nutrition
Photoautotrophic nutrition is a type of autotrophic nutrition where organisms use light energy to
synthesize their own food from inorganic substances(.
 Chemoautotrophic nutrition
Chemoautotrophic nutrition is a form of nutrition where organisms obtain energy from the oxidation
of inorganic compounds, rather than from sunlight.

Heterotrophic nutrition
 Mode of nutrition in which the organisms derive their nutrition by taking readymade food, from
other dead or living plants and animals e.g., Animals, fungi and most of bacteria. The survival of
heterotrophs depends directly or indirectly on autotrophs.
 Heterotrophic mode of nutrition is classified into three types on the basis of methods of obtaining
food.
  Holozoic nutrition - Ingestive nutrition Mode of nutrition in which the animals take complex solid
food or whole material and break down (digest) it inside the body. They may be herbivores (Cow),
carnivores (Lion) and omnivores (Rat).
 Saprotrophic nutrition - In this type of nutrition the organisms obtain their food from decaying
organic substances. They are also called saprotrophs. They break down the food material outside the
body and then absorb it. e.g., Bacteria, Fungi (bread molds, yeasts and mushrooms).
 Parasitic nutrition - Mode of nutrition in which organisms (parasite) derive nutrition from other
plants and animals (host) without killing them. e.g., Cuscuta (Amarbel), ticks, lice, leeches and
tapeworms.
Nutrition in Human Beings:
 In humans, nutrition begins with ingestion, where food is broken down into smaller particles through
chewing, aided by saliva.
 Saliva contains salivary amylase, which helps break down starch into simpler sugars.
 The food then moves down the esophagus through peristalsis into the stomach, where further
digestion occurs. (Peristalsis is a series of involuntary, wave-like muscle contractions that move food
through the digestive tract)
 The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid, which creates an acidic environment for the enzyme pepsin
to digest proteins.
 Food is then gradually released into the small intestine, where digestion and absorption occur.
 Digestive juices from the pancreas and liver help break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The
small intestine absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream.
 After absorption, the indigestible waste is moved to the large intestine, where water is reabsorbed,
and the remaining material is excreted.

Respiration
Respiration is a biological process in which organisms break down glucose (or other food molecules) to
release energy. This energy is used by the cells to perform various functions like growth, repair, and
movement.
 When we inhale air, it passes through our nostrils into the nasal cavity.
 From the nasal cavity, the air reaches our lungs through the windpipe. Lungs are present in the chest
cavity. This cavity is surrounded by ribs on the sides.
 A large, muscular sheet called diaphragm forms the floor of the chest cavity.
 Breathing involves the movement of the diaphragm and the rib cage

Type Description

1. Aerobic Respiration Respiration that takes place in the presence of oxygen.

2. Anaerobic Respiration Respiration that takes place without oxygen.

Difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration:

Feature Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

Oxygen
Occurs in the presence of oxygen Occurs in the absence of oxygen
Requirement

Lactic acid (in animals) or ethanol + CO₂ (in

Energy Produced More energy (around 36-38 ATP per Less energy (only 2 ATP per glucose
(ATP) glucose molecule) molecule)
Feature Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

Location in Cell Mitochondria Cytoplasm

Yeast, some bacteria, and human muscles

Efficiency High Low

Transportation
 In unicellular organisms a single cell carries out all the life processes as the cell itself is the
organism. In advanced forms like the few-celled algae, protozoa, sponges, etc., the size of the
organism ensures that all the cells are not very far from each other.
 The uptake of materials from the environment is through the general body surface and the transport
within the cells is by diffusion.
 However, more advanced multicellular forms need a transportation mechanism. The sites of
absorption and synthesis are very specific and are separated by a greater distance from the other parts
of the body.
 The actual movement of materials into the individual cells is by diffusion, osmosis or active
transport.

Blood
Blood is a red-colored fluid that flows through our body. It is a connective tissue made up of plasma and
blood cells, and it plays a vital role in transporting substances like oxygen, nutrients, and waste materials.

Components of Blood:

Component Function

1. Plasma Yellow liquid that transports food, hormones, carbon dioxide, and
 Component Function

waste.

2. Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Carry oxygen using haemoglobin (gives blood its red color).

3. White Blood Cells

4. Platelets Help in blood clotting to stop bleeding when injured.

Functions of Blood:
1. Transports oxygen from lungs to body parts.
2. Carries nutrients from the digestive system.
3. Removes waste like carbon dioxide and urea.
4. Fights infections (WBCs).
5. Heals wounds by forming clots (Platelets).
6. Maintains body temperature.
Blood vessels
Blood vessels are tube-like structures that carry blood throughout the body.
[Link] Features Arteries Veins Capillaries
1. Direction of Take the blood Bring the blood Blood flows
blood flow away from the towards the from arterioles
heart to heart from to capillaries
different parts various body and then to
of the body. parts. venules.
2. Kind of blood Oxygenated Deoxygenated Blood changes
blood except in blood except in from
the pulmonary pulmonary oxygenated to
artery. vein. deoxygenated.
3. Blood pressure Pressure is Pressure is low. Pressure is
high. extremely low.
4. Blood flow Blood flows Blood flows Blood flows
rapidly with smoothly smoothly
jerks. without jerks. without jerks.
5. Lumen Narrow Wide Very small
6. Valves Absent Present Absent
7. Location Mostly deep Mostly Form a
seated. superficial network all
over the body
and in the
organs.
The Heart
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through two primary circuits: the pulmonary
circuit, which connects the heart to the lungs, and the systemic circuit, which distributes blood throughout
the rest of the body. It consists of four chambers — two atria and two ventricles — that work together to
keep oxygenated and deoxygenated blood separate.

Heart chambers
Your heart has four separate chambers. You have two chambers on the top (atrium, plural atria) and two on
the bottom (ventricles), one on each side of your heart.
 Right atrium: Two large veins deliver oxygen-poor blood to your right atrium. The superior vena
cava carries blood from your upper body. The inferior vena cava brings blood from your lower body.
Then the right atrium pumps the blood to your right ventricle.
 Right ventricle: The lower right chamber pumps the oxygen-poor blood to your lungs through the
pulmonary artery. The lungs reload the blood with oxygen.
  Left atrium: After the lungs fill your blood with oxygen, the pulmonary veins carry the blood to the
left atrium. This upper chamber pumps the blood to your left ventricle.
 Left ventricle: The left ventricle is slightly larger than the right. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to the
rest of your body.
Lymphatic System
 Lymph is a fluid that gathers excess tissue fluid and returns it to the bloodstream.
 It also transports digested fats from the intestine and aids in the immune response.
Transportation in Plants:
 Plants have specialised systems for transporting water, minerals, and nutrients.
 Xylem carries water from the roots to the leaves, while phloem transports the products of
photosynthesis, like glucose, to various parts of the plant.
 Water is moved upwards through transpiration, which also helps regulate the plant's temperature.

Excretion
 A mechanism to filter the blood is required.
 This is done by the blood capillaries in the kidneys. When the blood reaches the two kidneys, it
contains both useful and harmful substances.
  The useful substances are absorbed back into the blood. The wastes dissolved in water are removed
as urine. Excretory system consists of the following organs :
 A pair of kidneys
 Ureters
 Urinary bladder
 Urethra
 Kidneys are 2 bean shaped organs which help in filtering blood to remove waste.
 A narrow tube called the ureter runs from the inner side of each kidney.
 The ureters, in turn, are connected to a large sac called the urinary bladder. Urine passes from the
kidney through two ureters into the urinary bladder. Urine is collected and stored here.
 Leading from the bladder is another tube called the urethra. Urethra works as the outlet passage for
urine.

Excretion in Plants:
 Plants handle excretion differently.
 During photosynthesis and respiration, they release gasses like oxygen and carbon dioxide through
stomata.
 Some wastes are stored in leaves, which are later shed, while others are stored as resins or gums.