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Overview of Life Processes in Organisms

Life processes are essential activities for maintaining life, including nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion. Nutrition can be autotrophic (self-made food) or heterotrophic (dependent on others), while respiration can be aerobic or anaerobic. The human circulatory and respiratory systems facilitate transportation and gas exchange, and the kidneys play a crucial role in excretion.

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5 views3 pages

Overview of Life Processes in Organisms

Life processes are essential activities for maintaining life, including nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion. Nutrition can be autotrophic (self-made food) or heterotrophic (dependent on others), while respiration can be aerobic or anaerobic. The human circulatory and respiratory systems facilitate transportation and gas exchange, and the kidneys play a crucial role in excretion.

Uploaded by

akanksha.m1227
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1. What Are Life Processes?

Life processes are the basic activities performed by living organisms to maintain life.
Main life processes:

 Nutrition
 Respiration
 Transportation
 Excretion

2. Nutrition
A. Autotrophic Nutrition

 Organisms make their own food.


 Plants → Photosynthesis
o Equation:

CO2+H2O→sunlight,chlorophyllGlucose+O2CO_2 + H_2O \
xrightarrow{sunlight, chlorophyll} Glucose + O_2CO2+H2
Osunlight,chlorophyllGlucose+O2

o Occurs in chloroplasts.

B. Heterotrophic Nutrition

Organisms depend on others for food.


Types:

1. Holozoic – Humans (ingestion → digestion → absorption → assimilation →


egestion)
2. Saprophytic – Fungi (feed on dead matter)
3. Parasitic – Tape worm, lice

Human Digestive System


 Mouth: Salivary amylase breaks starch → maltose.
 Stomach: HCl (kills germs), pepsin (proteins → peptides).
 Liver: Makes bile → emulsifies fat.
 Pancreas: Enzymes for proteins, carbs & fats.
 Small Intestine: Final digestion + absorption (villi).
 Large Intestine: Water absorption.
3. Respiration
Respiration: Release of energy from food.

 Aerobic: With oxygen; occurs in mitochondria → more energy.


 Anaerobic: Without oxygen (yeast → alcohol; human muscles → lactic acid).

Human Respiratory System

 Nasal cavity → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli


 Alveoli: Site of gas exchange; oxygen diffuses into blood.

4. Transportation
A. Transport in Plants
 Xylem: Water + minerals (root → leaves).
 Phloem: Food from leaves → other parts (translocation).
 Transpiration: Loss of water through leaves; helps in pulling water upward.

B. Human Circulatory System


 Blood
o RBCs (carry O₂), WBCs (fight diseases), Platelets (clotting)
 Heart
o 4 chambers: Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle
o Double circulation:
 Pulmonary (heart ↔ lungs)
 Systemic (heart ↔ body)
 Blood vessels
o Arteries: Carry blood away from heart; thick walls.
o Veins: Carry blood to heart; valves present.
o Capillaries: Very thin; exchange of materials.

5. Excretion
A. Excretion in Humans
 Kidneys filter blood → form urine
 Urine passes through ureters → urinary bladder → urethra
 Nephron = structural & functional unit
o Filtration → Reabsorption → Secretion

B. Excretion in Plants
 Store waste in vacuoles
 Gums & resins
 Leaves falling removes waste

6. Summary Points (Exam-Ready)


 Life processes help in maintenance of life.
 Autotrophs make food; heterotrophs depend on others.
 Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts → produces glucose + oxygen.
 Respiration releases energy; aerobic > anaerobic.
 Xylem = water; Phloem = food transport.
 Heart pumps blood; double circulation prevents mixing of oxygenated &
deoxygenated blood.
 Kidney filters waste; nephron = basic unit of excretion.

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