BHATNAGAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

PASCHIM VIHAR
CLASS X CH 6: LIFE PROCESSES
Life process:
Maintenance functions of living organisms must go on even when they are not doing anything
particular, because these functions are needed to prevent damage and breakdown. For them
energy is needed , which comes from outside the body of an org. In the form of raw material
called food. Most of the food sources are carbon based since life on Earth comes from carbon.
To reduce the varied types of carbon molecules (depending upon the source of food for the
organism ) into simpler absorbable forms various oxidation reduction reactions takes place in
body of the organism.

NUTRITION:
May be defined as process of transfer of raw material from outside organism’s body (food) to
inside the body is called Nutrition.

Types of nutrition: 3 types

1) Autotrophic: Mode of nutrition in which the organism manufactures its own food by using
water , CO2 and minerals in presence of sunlight. Eg/ green plants, and some bacteria.
Carbohydrates are produced in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, to provide energy to
plants. Carbohydrates which are not used are stored in the form of starch as reserved food
material.
6CO2 + 6H2O ------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Events during Photosynthesis:
1. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.
2. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Reduction of CO2 to carbohydrates. (sugars)
However some plants like desert plants take up CO2 at night to prepare intermediates to be
acted upon by chlorophyll during day.
Process of exchange of gasses in plants:
 Gaseous exchange takes place in plants by minute pores called STOMATA.
Dicots have kidney shaped stomata and monocots have dumbbell shaped stomata.
When water enters the guard cells they become turgid and stretch. Due to stretching
they open and stomatal pore opens thereby allowing in gaseous exchange and also
transpiration(process of removal of water in the form of water vapour through guard
cells).
When plant experiences wilting or shortage of water stomatal aperture closes due to
withdrawal of water from guard cells.
Though stomata are present in leaves but it should be noted that gaseous exchange takes
place through roots and stem also.
Other raw material like N2 , Ph, Fe and Mg are taken from soil directly.

2) Heterotrophic :
Type of nutrition in which organism derives its food by eating green plants (herbivore)
or other organisms (carnivore) and breaks it down in its body to get nutrition.
3) Saprotrophic:
Type of nutrition in which organism derives its by feeding on dead and decaying organisms.
When any organism is dead it is acted upon by micro organisms which degrade the complex
molecules of that organism into simples ones. These simple molecules are utilised /absorbed
by saprotrophs for their nutrition. Eg /Fungi

Mode of obtaining nutrition:

Holozoic nutrition: In single celled organism food is taken by entire surface Eg/ Amoeba.
But as animal starts to become complex various parts get specialised to perform various
functions.
NUTRITION IN HUMAN BEINGS:

MOUTH:
Food is taken in by mouth and it goes into buccal cavity . Food particle are crushed into
smaller ones by chewing action of teeth and it is mixed up with saliva by the help of
muscular tongue. This process of breaking food into smaller particles and its mixing with
saliva is called Mastication. 30% of carbohydrates get digested in mouth itself by the action
of Saliva secreted by salivary glands which has enzyme called salivary amylase or
ptyalin. Tongue then helps in pushing down this food to stomach through oesophagus. Food
moves down the stomach by peristaltic movements of muscular oesophagus lined with
mucus.
STOMACH:
Muscular walls of stomach helps to mix food with more digestive juices. Gastric glands are
present on walls of the stomach which release HCl (anti microbial), protein digesting
enzyme pepsinogen (inactive) and mucus. Mucus protects the stomach epithelial lining from
the corrosive action of HCl. Protein digesting enzyme is produced in inactive form so that it
cannot digest the muscular proteins in absence of food. When food enters stomach
pepsinogen is converted into active pepsin which then under acidic conditions produced by
HCl digests proteins.

SMALL INTESTINE:
After stomach food now enters into small intestine which is the longest part of alimentary
canal and is extensively coiled to fit into small space.
Herbivores have longer intestines as they need to digest cellulose which takes longer time
to digest, where as since meat is easier to digest therefore carnivores have shorter small
intestines. Small intestine is the site for composite digestion of carbohydrates , fats and
[Link] receives juices and enzymes from liver and pancreas.
Food coming from stomach is acidic and has to be made alkaline for pancreatic enzymes
(trypsin and lipases) to act. This is done by the action of BILE Juice from liver.
Functions of Bile juice:
1. Makes acidic stomach food alkaline so that pancreatic enzymes can act.
2. Breaks down large fat globules into smaller ones (emulsification of fats) for efficient
action of lipases.
Intestinal juices secreted by glands present on walls of small intestine have enzymes that
finally convert:
Proteins Amino acids
Carbohydrates Glucose
Fats Fatty acids and glycerol
Structural modification of small intestine:
Small intestine’s surface is provided with numerous finger like projection called villi to
increase the surface area for absorption of digested food. Villi are richly supplied with
blood that takes up the absorbed products to various parts of the body to obtain energy.
LARGE INTESTINE:
Unabsorbed food is sent to large intestine where more villi absorb water from it rest is
removed as waste from anus regulated by anal sphincter.

RESPIRATION:
What is respiration?
The process of break down of glucose molecule to produce energy in the form of ATP is
called respiration. Co2 and H2O are other byproducts
Differences between respiration and breathing:
Respiration Breathing

 A chemical process A physical process

 Irreversible Reversible
 glucose molecule is broken to Lungs contract and relax to inhale and
form ATP(energy rich mol) exhale air.
 Takes place in cytoplasm of the Nostrils , windpipe, lungs and diaphragm
Cell. are involved.

 Co2 and H2O are byproducts O2 rich air is inhaled and CO2 rich air
is exhaled.

 Types of respiration:
1) Aerobic: Lysis of glucose molecule in presence of oxygen that results in Co 2 ,
Water and energy (ATP). Eg/ in aerobes, in mitochondria.
2) Anaerobic: Lysis of glucose molecule in absence of oxygen that results in Co2 ,
ethanol and energy (ATP). Eg/Yeast
3) Lack of oxygen: When oxygen is not present in sufficient amount. It results in
production of Lactic acid and Energy.
 Uptake of O2 is dependent on the organisms surroundings. At night when there is no
photosynthesis CO2 moves out of the plant. However during day time CO2 generated by
respiratory activity of organisms is utilised by plants as a carbon source and O2 is
released.
 In case of aquatic organisms since the amount of oxygen dissolved is quite less as
compared to oxygen in air the rate of breathing in aquatic animals is faster that
terrestrial organisms.
 Breathing in humans: air is taken in through nostrils where it gets filtered by fine hair
that line the passage. Here mucus is also present that serves the same function. Then air
passes to throat and then to lungs.
 Rings of cartilage is present in throat that ensures that air passage doesn’t collapse.
 Within lungs the passage is further divided into smaller and smaller structures that
finally terminates into balloon like structure called the ALVEOLI.
  ALVEOLI : provides the platform for exchange of gasses.
 Mechanism of breathing: It is divided into 2 parts,
a) Inhalation: Upon inhalation the diaphragm moves downwards , ribs move
outwards and the lungs expand thereby increasing the chest cavity volume. This
leads to a decrease in air pressure within our lungs so oxygen rich air is pulled
inside.
b) Exhalation: Upon exhalation the diaphragm moves upwards , ribs move inwards
and the lungs contract thereby decreasing the chest cavity volume. This leads to a
increase in air pressure within our lungs so CO2 rich air is expelled outside.
The residual volume of air that remains permanently in lungs irrespective of inhalation
or exhalation stage is there so as to ensure sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and
CO2 to be released.
 Due to large body size of the organism simple diffusion is not sufficient to transport
O2 to various parts of the body hence we need a respiratory pigment. In humans we
have haemoglobin that has very high affinity for Oxygen. It is present in RBCs

TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation in humans:
 Blood is the liquid connective tissue present in humans.
 It has a fluid medium called plasma its function is to transport food , CO2 and
nitrogenous waste in dissolved form.
 In plasma are present the cells (RBC), their function is to carry oxygen.
 Thus blood needs to be pumped all over the body.
HEART:
 A muscular organ of the size of our fist.
 It has septa that separates various chambers of heart so as to keep the oxygenated
and deoxygenated blood separate.
 Heart in humans has 4 chambers , 2 upper ones are left and right atriums and 2
lower ones are left and right ventricles.
 CO2 rich blood is pumped to lungs for purification ie oxygenation. Oxygenated
blood is pumped to all the parts of the body to provide oxygen for respiration.
 Process of blood circulation:
 Oxygen rich pure blood comes from lungs to the left atrium when it is in its
relaxed state.
 Left atrium then contracts pumping the pure blood in left ventricle.
 When left ventricle contracts it pumps the blood through Aorta to all the parts
of the body. (Systemic circulation)
 De oxygenated blood comes from body to right atrium as it is in its relaxed
state.
 When right atrium contracts it pours its blood into right ventricle which is in
relaxed state.
 Right ventricle then pumps the impure blood through pulmonary artery to
lungs for oxygenation. (Pulmonary circulation)
 Since blood enters heart twice in mammals once due to systemic circulation
and once due to pulmonary circulation , this type of circulation is called
Double circulation.
 Valves are present at various junctions within heart to prevent backflow of
blood.
 Importance of divisions/ septa in heart:
 Separation of right and left side of the heart is important to keep the oxygenated
and deoxygenated blood separate so as to allow high efficiency supply of oxygen
to body .
 This is important for organisms that have high energy requirement like birds and
mammals as they constantly use energy for regulation of their body temperature.
 Animals whose body temperature depends upon surrounding environment and
who do not use their energy for this purpose often have 3 chambered heart where
mixing of blood takes place. Eg/ reptiles(exception crocodile) and amphibians.
 Fishes have 2 chambered heart. As blood gets oxygenated in gills and then passed
directly to the entire body.

The Blood vessels:

Arteries:
 They carry oxygenated blood.
 They carry blood away from heart to various body parts.
 They have thick and elastic walls since blood is pumped under high pressure
from heart.
Veins:
 They carry deoxygenated blood.
 They carry blood towards heart from various body parts.
 They do not have thick walls instead have valves to ensure there is no back flow
of blood since blood is no longer under pressure.
Capillaries:
On reaching organ/tissue the artery divides into smaller and smaller vessels to
provide blood to all individual cells. Smallest vessel which have one celled thick
wall are called capillaries. Capillaries then join to form veins that take blood away
from organs.
Functions of platelets:
They help in plugging any type of leak by helping to clot the blood at the point of
injury. Any type of injury or leak would result in loss of blood which has to be
minimized in addition to it platelets also help in clot formation that prevents blood
flow.

Lymph/tissue fluid:
 Another type of fluid, also involved in transportation
 When blood rushes under great pressure from capillaries, through their cells
some amount of plasma , protein etc escape into intercellular spaces.
 It is similar to plasma of the blood but is colourless and has less proteins.
 Lymph carries digested food and absorbed fats from intestine and drains
excess fluid from extracellular spaces back to blood.
Transportation in plants :
Absorption of majority of the components like water, mineral etc takes place through
roots. From there it has to be transported to various parts of the plant.
Energy needs differ between different body designs. Plants are non motile and also have
dead cells so plants have low energy needs, but distance over which transport system
has to operate can be very large.

Transport of water:
 Xylem is the specialised tissue in plants for transportation of water.
 In xylem vessels and tracheids of the roots ,stem and leaves are interconnected to
form a continuous system of water conducting channels reaching all parts of the
plants.
 When water is present in soil it is absorbed by roots and passed on, however this
force is not enough for transportation of water to great heights.
 To transport water to great heights plant uses the process of Transpiration. Here
water is lost from the Ariel parts of the plant in the form of water vapour through
stomata and in doing so it creates a transpirational pull that further absorbs water
through xylem elements that inturn absorbs water from the soil.
 Transpiration also serves the function of plant body temperature regulation.

Transport of food and other substances:

 The transport of soluble products of photosynthesis is called translocation and
occurs by the vascular tissue phloem (sieve tube elements).
 Phloem also transports amino acids and other substances. These products are
stored in storage organs like roots , fruits and seeds.
 Translocation through phloem is an active process that uses ATP.
 When sugars move into phloem tissues this increases the osmotic pressure and
water also moves along with it. This then moves the sugars to area in plant body
that has less pressure.

EXCRETION:
Biological process involved in removal of harmful nitrogenous wastes from the body is
called Excretion.
Excretion in humans:
 Excretory system in humans consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, a
urinary bladder and a urethra.
 Urine produced by kidneys passes to urinary bladder through ureters, where it is
stored until it is released through urethra.
 Process of urine formation/ultrafiltration:
 Purpose of urine formation is to filter out nitrogenous waste out of blood
in the form of urea or uric acid.
  Each kidney has a basic filtration unit called nephron.
 Each nephron has a bowman’s capsule, it opens into a tubular region, it
further opens up into collecting duct.
 Bowman’s capsule is supplied with a tuft of capillaries called the
glomerulus. These capillaries are single celled thick so as to allow proper
filtration of impure blood exept the large proteins, RBC’s and other pure
components. (also called ultrafiltration)
 Blood enters through one part of the glomerular capillary gets filtered and
pure blood passes through the other end ..
 This filtrate then passes through the tubular part of the nephron where
substrate like glucose, amino acids , salts and major amount of water is
selectively reabsorbed . This is then drained into collecting duct.
 Urine from each kidney through ureter moves to urinary bladder which is
muscular. It then passes out the urine when we feel the urge to do so.
Excretion in plants:
 Here Oxygen can be considered as a waste product generated during
photosynthesis.
 Water is eliminated by transpiration.
 Many times waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles.
 It may also get stored in leaves that later fall off.
 Waste products are also stored as resins , gums specially in old xylem tissues.
 They may also excrete some substances in soil around them