esses

( LIFE PROCESSES

• The processes carried out by living organisms to sustain

life.
• Provide the energy required to sustain life.
• Important life processes are:
o Nutrition - Process of intake and utilisation of nutrients by
an organism.
o Respiration - Provides energy required for each and every
activity of the organism.
o Transportation - Gases, nutrients and excretory products
are transported in the body by blood via the circulatory
system.
o Excretion - Elimination of harmful metabolic waste
products from the body.

MODES OF NUTRITION

Autotrophic Heterotrophic
Nutrition Nutrition

Organisms produce their Organisms derive energy

own food using simple from the organic substances
inorganic substances. prepared by autotrophs or
from other animals.
E.g., Green plants and some E.g., Humans and other
bacteria. animals.

r:=::: AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION

Photosynthesis
• A process by which plants and algae produce their food.
 • Raw materials - Sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
• ChlorophylJ containing cells produce carbohydrates from
carbon dioxide and water, by using light energy.

Events of Photosynthesis

• Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.

• Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of
water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
• Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

6CO + 12H O Sunlight

2 2
Chlorophyll

Heterotrophic Nutrition
• It differs depending on the type and availability of food
mate rial as well a s how it is obtained.

of Heterotrophic Nutrition

• Nutrition from dead and decaying

organic matter.
• E.g., Yeast and mushrooms.

• Nutrition from plants or animals without

killing them.
• E.g., Cuscuta (amar-bel), ticks, etc.

• Organisms take in whole material and

break it inside their bodies.
• E.g., Humans and Amoeba.
• Steps involved
Ingestion ➔ Digestion ➔ Absorption
➔ Assimilation ➔ Egestion
 Nutrition in Amo eba
Finge r - like exten sions called pseud opodi a
fuses over the food particle and forms food
I
vacuole. I
Enzymes in the food vacuole breaks down
comp lex substances into simpler ones
(intracellular diges tion).

Digested food is absorbed into the

cytoplasm.

Absorbed food is utilise d to meet the

energy needs of Amoeba.

Ruptu ring of cell membrane to remove the

undigested food material from the body.

Pseudopods forming
food ~
11,ctl!ria

--
1 2

Food
vKU<>le

I
Digestion
Undlg~t ed
food

Nutrit ion in Amoeba

 Nutrition in Humans

Humans have a long tube called alimentary canal, extending

from the mouth to the anus along with associated digestive
glands.

Mouth
r...,.
E, '" ,,..

- - - -- f ,• g,s

..,_
C Tl II

- - - - ,,....,,.
Smal

- ~ ......". -~~ ---- Aaclum

- - hw

Human Alimentary Canal

C::::: STEPS OF NUTRITION IN HUMANS

Ingestion
• Teeth: Chewing and grinding the food.

• Salivary Glands: Secretes saliva which

contains salivary amylase which helps in
the breakdown of starch into simple
sugars.

• Tongue: Mixing of food and tasting.

• Transport of food from mouth to

stomach by peristalsis {wavelike
muscular contractions).
 Digestion

Stomach produces gastric jukes which

contains:
• Pepsin - Digestion of proteins.
• HCI - Kills bacteria and creates an acidic
medium for the action of the enzyme
pepsin.
• Mucus - Protects the inner lining of
stomach from HCI.

• Receives the secretions of the liver and

pancreas, secretes intestinal juice.
• Liver secretes bile which helps in
emulsification of fats.

• Pancreas secretes pancreatic juices

which contains following enzymes:
o Trypsin - breaks down proteins into
amino acids.
o Lipase - breaks down emulsified fats
into fatty acids and glycerol.
o Amylase - breaks down starch into
simple sugars.

• The enzymes in intestinal juices finally

convert
o proteins to amino acids.
o complex carbohydrates into glucose.
o fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Absorption and Assimilation

• Inner lining has numerous finger-like

projections called villi which increase the
surface area for absorption.
• From here, the digested food is absorbed
and utilized by cells for energy, growth
and repair.

• Reabsorbs excess water from the

undigested food.
 Egestion

• Undigested food is temporarily stored

here.

• Undigested food is removed from the

body via the anus.
• Anal sphincter regulates the exit of
waste material.

C:::: RESPIRATION

• Breakdown of glucose to release energy (ATP - Adenoslne

triphosphate) with the intake of oxygen and release of
carbon dioxide.

C:: BREAKDOWN OF GLUCOSE BY VARIOUS PATHWAYS

Glucose (6-carbon molecule)

Cytoplasm

Pyruvate (3-carbon
molecule) + Energy

Presence of Oxygen I lack of Oxygen Absence of Oxygen

In mitochondria In our muscle cells In yeast

Carbon dioxide + Lactic acid + Ethanol + Carbon

Water + Energy Energy Dioxide + Energy
 TYPES OF RESPIRATION

Aerobic Anaerobic
Respiration Respi ration

• Occurs in the presence of • Occurs in the absence of

oxygen. oxygen.
• End products are carbon • End products are alcohol
dioxide and water. and CO 2 or lactic acid.
• Occurs in mitochondria. • Occurs in cytoplasm.
• 36 ATP molecules are • 2 ATP molecules are
produced. produced.

Human Respiratory System

The pathway of air is:

Nostril ➔ Nasal passage ➔ Nasal cavity ➔ Pharynx ➔ Larynx /
Voice box ➔ Trachea I windpipe ➔ Lungs (Bronchi ➔
Bronchioles ➔ Alveoli)

Human Respiratory System

• Alveoli are balloon - like structures surrounded by b lood
capillaries.
• Carbon dioxide is released in the alveoli and oxygen is taken
up from the alveoli and transported by blood.
• In large animals, diffusion pressure is insufficient to provide
oxygen to alll parts of the body.
• Hence, in humans oxygen carrying pigment called
haemoglobin, help to achieve this.

Mechanism of Breathing
Inhalation Exhala tion
Diaphragm becomes dome
Diaphragm becomes flat. shaped.

Ribs move up. Ribs move down.

Thoracic cavity expands. Thoracic cavity contracts.

Alveoli expands and air is Volume of lung decreases and

sucked into the lungs. air is expelled out of the lungs.

Respiration in Other Organisms

Plants Aquatic Animals Earthworms

Stomata, Gills Skin Skin, lungs

l enticels
 Transportation
• Process where substances are carried from the site of
production to the site of utilisation.
• Unicellular organisms - transport through cytoplasmic
streaming.
• Multicellular organisms • transport through circulatory
system.

Circulatory system in Humans

I

• It is a network of blood and blood vessels, lymph and lymph

vessels along with the heart.

Blood

• Fluid connective tissue and red in colour due to the presence

of haemoglobin pigment.
• Blood flows inside the body in blood vessels.
• Blood transports following substances in the body:
o Nutrients • Dist ributed to all the body parts and !helps in
growth and development.
O Oxygen - Transported to all the body parts and is required
for respiration.
o Carbon dioxide - carried to the lungs from all the body parts
for expellllng.
o Waste and toxic materials - transported to the kidneys and
excreted in the form of urine.

Composition of blood

• Composed of blood cells and plasma.

• Different types of blood cells are:
o RBC (Erythrocytes) - contain haemoglobin and helps in
the transport of gases.
o WBC (Leukocytes) - responsible for protecting our body
from infection.
O Platelets (Thrombocytes) - responsible for clotting of
blood.
 Blood vessels
Arteries Vei ns Capillaries

Transport Transport They connect

blood away blood towards arteries and
from the heart the heart veins
Function except
except
pulmonary pulmonary
artery vein

Thick, Thin One cell thick

Wall muscular and
elastic

Lumen Narrow Wide Very small

Pressure High Low Low

Valves No Yes No

Diagram

Structure of Heart

• A muscular organ located in the chest cavity, between the

lungs.
• Separated jnto four chambers.
• Upper chambers are called right and left auricles which are
made of thinner walls when compared to ventricles.
• Lower chambers are called right and left ventricles, made of
thicker muscular walls.
• The right and left side of the heart are separated by a septum
to prevent the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood.
• Valves- Flap-like structure that prevents the backflow of
blood.
 Pulmonary
,.--- - artery

Superior Pulmonary
vena cava ~ :::.it- vein

Left atrium
Pulmonary valve - -++

Right atrium ~ ,-- Mitral valve

(Bicuspid valve)

Tricuspid valve ..:.~. - Aortic valve

Right ventricle - -+- Left ventricle

1nferior
vena cava _ ___,, Septum

Structure of Human Heart

Different Blood vessels are:

• Pulmonary Artery - Arises from right ventricle carrying

deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• Aorta - Arises from the left ventricle carrying oxygenated
blood to all body parts.
• Vena Cava - Carry deoxygenated blood from upper and lower
parts of the body into the right atrium.
• Pulmonary Veins - Carry oxygenated blood from lungs to the
heart.

Different Valves in Heart and their Locations:

• Trlcuspid valve - Between the right atrium and right ventricle.

• Bicuspid valve - Between the left! atrium and left ventricle.
• Aortic Semllunar valve - At the opening of aorta from the left
ventricle.
• Pulmonary Semilunar valve - At the opening of pulmonary
artery from the right ventricle.
 Double circulation
• Blood circulates t hrough the heart twice.
• The main advantage is that every tissue in t he body has a
steady supply of blood. and no mixing of blood.

The two pathways in which the blood flows are:

Deoxygenated blood ➔ Pulmonary artery

➔ Right ventricle➔ Lungs➔ Oxygenated
blood ➔ Pulmonary Veins ➔ Left atrium

Oxygenated blood ➔ left ventricle ➔

Aorta ➔ Body tissues ➔ deoxygenated
blood ➔ vena cava ➔ Right atrium

Pulmonary
Artery

Vena
Cava Aorta

Heart

Double Circulatory System in Humans

Lymph and Lymphatic System

• Lymph: Colourless and contains plasma, proteins and WBCs.

Function of Lymph:
• Carries digested and absorbed fat from the intestine.
• Drains excess fluid from extracellular space back into the
blood.
 Blood Pressure
• The force that blood exerts against the wall of a vessel.
• Measured with an instrument called sphygmomanometer.
• Systolic pressure - Pressure of blood during ventricular systole
(contraction).
• Diastolic pressure - Pressure of blood during ventricular
diastole (relaxation).
• The normal systolic pressure is about 120 mm of Hg and
diastolic pressure is 80 mm of Hg.
Hypertension

• High blood pressure caused by the constriction of arterioles

resulting in increased resistance to blood flow.
• Leads to the rupture of an artery and causes Internal bleeding.

Transportation in Plants
• Occurs with the help of two types of tissues:
o Xylem - transportation of water and minerals
0 Phloem - translocation of food

Transportation of Water and M inerals

• In xylem, vessels and tracheids of roots, stems, and leaves are

interconnected to form continuous water conducting
channels.
• Water is transported by two methods: Root pressure and
Transpiration Pull.

Pathway of Water in Xylem (Root Pressure)

• Root cells actively take up ions from water in the soil.

• There is difference in concentration of ions between root and
soil, so water enters root to eliminate this difference.
• Root pressure pushes water into the xylem which moves
upwards through trachelds and vessels to the leaf cells.
 Pat hway of Water in Xylem (Trans piratio n Pull)

• Root pressure is not enough t o move water in tall plants. So,

plants use transpir ational pull.
• Transpiration: loss of water in the form of vapour from the
aerial parts of the plant.
• Evaporation of water from the leaf creates a suction force
which pulls water.
• Helps in temper ature regulation.

Transportation of Subs tance s in Phloem

• Translocation : Transpo rt of soluble produc ts of

photosynthesis.
• Occurs in the sieve tubes with the help of adjacen t companion
cells.
• Happens in upward and downw ard directio ns.
• Also transpo rts amino acids and other substances to the
storage organs of roots, fruits and seeds.

Xylem Phloem

H 20

HzO

Translocation of Solutes in Phloem

 Pathway of Food in Phloem
• Sucrose is transferred into phloem using energy from ATP.
• Increase in the osmotic pressure of the tissue
• Entry of water from xylem into sieve tubes.
• This pressure moves the material in the phloem to tissues
which have less pressure.

Excretion
• Process involved in the removal of harmful metabolic wastes
from the body.
• Unicellular organisms remove wastes by simple diffusion.
• Multicellular organisms have special organs to perform
excretion.

Types of organisms based on different

Nitrogenous Wastes
• Excrete wastes in the form of ammonia.
• E.g., Fishes, crustaceans, tadpoles, few
protozoans.

• Excrete wastes in the form of urea.

• E.g., Cartilaginous fish, adult amphibians,
and mammals including humans.

• Excrete wastes in the form of uric acid.

• E.g., Birds, insects, and reptiles.

HUMAN EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Excretory System in Human Beings

 Parts of Excretory Syste m

I l
A pair of Abdom en, on either side Separation of waste
Kidneys of the backbone. from the bloodst ream.
1---- -- - ! -- - - -- - - - -- - - - - - - -
Begins from the kidney Carry urine from the
A pair of and joins into the urinary kidney to urinary
Ureters bladder. bladder.
-
Hollow muscular elastic Stores urine
Urinary tempor arily and it is
organ present in the
Bladder under nervous control.
pelvic region.

Small tube-lik e structure Carries urine from

Urethra present at the end of the urinary bladder to
urinary bladder. expel it from the body.
~

Neph ron

• Nephron is the structural and functional unit of a kidney.

• Each kidney contains more than one million nephrons.

Afferent """"".::-- - -+.-- -- Efferent Arteriole

Arteriole ____ ___.,.

Glomerulus Proximal
Convoluted
Bowman's Tubule
Capsule
:_=-,;,..-- -- - -- Distal
Descending Limb Convoluted
ofloop o(Henl...- -~ Tubule
Hen Ie's
Loop [
.
Ascending Limb _ fi"=..,.,_l'-
of Loop of Henle

Vasa Reeta - - - - -~
r - - - - Collecting Duct

Structure of a Nephron
 Structure of Nephron
Tiny ball - shaped structure composed of
capillary blood vessels.

Cup - like structure which encloses the

glomerulus.

Highly coiled structure starting from

glomeru lus leading to the Hen Ie's loop.

Hairpin - shaped with ascending and

descending limbs, connects the PCT with
OCT.

Henle's loop ascends and leads to the OCT

that ends into the collecting duct.

Mechanism of Urine Formation

• Blood passes through the glomerulus
under high pressure.
• Water, sugar, salts, amino acids and
nitrogenous wastes are filtered.
• Filtered substance is called filtrate and it
enters the Bowman's capsule.

• Glucose, certain salts and amino acids

are reabsorbed PCT.
• Water is reabsorbed in the loop of
Henle.
• Salts get reabsorbed in the OCT.

• Toxins and harmful wastes do not

undergo reabsorption.
• Excess ions and ingested drugs are
secreted from the blood into the OCT to
form urine.
C:: TRANSPORTATION OF URINE

• Many OCT open into the collecting tubules, into which the
urine is released.
• Urine passes from the collecting duct and enters into the
ureter which joins to the urinary bladder.
• The urine then exits the bladder through urethra.

Artificial Kidney [Hemodialysis)

• Dialysis is a way of purifying blood outside the body

through a machine when the kidneys stops functioning.

Process of Dialysis

~--.-..._ _ Purified blood to vein

- (i\ Semi
Blood
- l
permeable
tubes

Pump Dialysing
fluid

• Blood is taken out from the main artery and pumped into an
dialysing machine.
• Inside the dialysing machine, blood flows through tubes
having semi - permeable lining, suspended in a tank filled
with dialysing fluid.
• Waste products from blood pass into dialysing fluid by
diffusion.
• Purified blood is injected back into the veins of the patient.
 Excretion in Plants

• Carbon dioxide formed during respiration and oxygen

formed during photosynthesis are removed through stomata.
• Excess water is removed by transpiration.
• Many plant wastes are stored in cellular vacuoles which are
disposed by shedding of leaves.
• Gum and resin are given out through pores in the bark of
trees.
• Terrestrial plants excrete some wastes into the soil with the
help of root cells by the process of diffusion.

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-cJ-
GOOD LUCK

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