Chapter 9: Life Processes in Animals - Notes (Till Ruminants)
Nutrition in Animals
Nutrition is the process of taking in food and converting it into energy and other vital
nutrients required for life.
Steps of Nutrition:
1. Ingestion - Taking in food
2. Digestion - Breaking down complex food into simpler, soluble forms
3. Absorption - Absorption of digested food into blood and transport to body cells
4. Assimilation - Utilization of absorbed food by cells for energy and growth
5. Egestion - Removal of undigested food from the body
Types of Nutrition:
Holozoic nutrition - Animals take in whole food and digest it (most animals including
humans)
Other modes - Some organisms have different feeding methods
Human Digestive System
Parts of the Digestive System:
1. Mouth (Buccal Cavity)
Food is ingested through the mouth
Teeth - Cut, tear, and grind food into smaller pieces
Tongue - Helps in mixing food with saliva and swallowing
Salivary glands - Secrete saliva containing the enzyme salivary amylase that begins
digestion of starch
2. Oesophagus (Food Pipe)
Connects mouth to stomach
Moves food by peristalsis - rhythmic contractions of muscles that push food forward
3. Stomach
J-shaped muscular bag
Inner lining secretes gastric juice containing:
o Hydrochloric acid (HCl) - Kills bacteria, makes medium acidic
o Pepsin - Enzyme that digests proteins
o Mucus - Protects stomach lining from acid
Food is churned and mixed with gastric juice for 2-3 hours
4. Small Intestine
Longest part of the alimentary canal (about 7.5 meters)
Highly coiled tube
Complete digestion occurs here
Liver secretes bile (stored in gall bladder) which:
o Makes food alkaline
o Breaks down fats into smaller droplets (emulsification)
Pancreas secretes pancreatic juice containing enzymes that digest:
o Carbohydrates
o Proteins
o Fats
Intestinal juice from intestinal walls completes digestion
Inner walls have finger-like projections called villi that:
o Increase surface area for absorption
o Contain blood vessels that absorb digested food
5. Large Intestine
Wider and shorter than small intestine
Absorbs water and salts from undigested food
Undigested waste becomes semi-solid (faeces)
6. Rectum and Anus
Rectum stores faeces temporarily
Anus is the opening through which faeces is expelled (egestion)
Digestion in Grass-Eating Animals (Ruminants)
What are Ruminants?
Animals that feed on grass and plants are called herbivores. Some herbivores like cows,
buffaloes, sheep, goats, and deer are called ruminants.
Why Special Digestive System?
Grass and plants contain cellulose, a type of carbohydrate
Cellulose is difficult to digest and requires special treatment
Ruminants have evolved a complex stomach to digest cellulose efficiently
The Ruminant Stomach
Ruminants have a four-chambered stomach:
1. Rumen (largest chamber)
Process of Digestion in Ruminants:
Step 1: Initial Eating
Ruminants quickly swallow grass without chewing it much
The swallowed grass goes into the rumen
Step 2: Fermentation in Rumen
The rumen contains special bacteria that can digest cellulose
These bacteria break down cellulose through fermentation
Partially digested food is formed
Step 3: Rumination (Chewing the Cud)
The partially digested food from the rumen returns to the mouth
This returned food is called cud
The animal chews the cud thoroughly while resting
This process is called rumination
Step 4: Re-swallowing
The rechewed cud is swallowed again
It passes through the other chambers for further digestion
Step 5: Complete Digestion
Food moves through reticulum, omasum, and abomasum
Final digestion occurs in the abomasum (true stomach)
Digested food is then absorbed in the intestines