Class 10th One -Shot series

LIFE PROCESSES
BIOLOGY
 Topics to be Covered
1. Nutrition

2. Respiration

3. Transportation

4. Excretion
 What are Life Processes
The various basic functions performed by living organisms to maintain their life
on this earth are called life processes.

The basic life processes common to all living organisms are are as follows:

1. Nutrition
2. Respiration
3. Transportation
4. Excretion
Amoeba - Unicellular

Human - Multicellular
Plant - Multicellular
 NUTRITION
The process by which a living organism obtain and utilise food is called Nutrition.

Energy

Growth and Development

Repair of damaged tissue

 Types of Nutrition
Autotrophic Heterotrophic
Nutrition Nutrition

Organisms prepare their Organisms are dependent

own food. on other organisms for their
food.
 Autotrophic Nutrition
1. Photosynthetic Autotrophic Nutrition
Ex - Green Plants
Photosynthesis

Chlorophyll (Blue - green algae)

Food
Cyanobacteria
Glucose
 Autotrophic Nutrition
2. Chemosynthetic Autotrophic Nutrition

Chemicals

Purple - Sulfur Bacteria

NH4
NO2
Chemical energy Food
NO3
 Heterotrophic Nutrition
1. Holozoic
2. Saprotrophic
3. Parasite
 Holozoic nutrition
The organism feed by ingesting solid organic matter which is then digested
and absorbed into their bodies.

They can be classified as:

● Herbivores
● Carnivores
● Omnivores
 Saprotrophic nutrition
Feed on dead and decaying matter. Include bacteria and fungi which digest
the food externally before the nutrients are absorbed.

e.g. Yeast, Bread mould, Mushroom, etc.

 Parasite nutrition
Obtains nutrients from living organisms. The parasite obtains nutrients by
living on (External parasite) or in (internal parasite) the body of the host.

e.g. Lice, TIcls, Leech, Tapeworm

Note - “Cuscuta” is a Parasitic plant because it lacks chlorophyll.

 Autotrophic nutrition in Plants
1. Carbon dioxide (air)

2. Water (soil)

3. Light (sunlight)

4. Chlorophyll (chloroplast)
Cross-section of a leaf
 Photosynthesis reaction

● Plants store glucose in form of Starch

● Humans store glucose in form of Glycogen
 Photosynthesis reaction
1. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.

2. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water

molecule into hydrogen and oxygen.

3. Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

 Stomatal Pore
Stomata are tiny pore like structures present on surface of leaves.
Functions of Stomata:
1. Transpiration
2. Exchange of gases during photosynthesis and respiration.
 Opening and closing of Stomata
● Stomata opens on swelling (H2O enters) of
guard cells.

● Stomata closes on shrinking (H2O Moves

out) of guard cells.
 Photosynthesis in Desert plants

Night Day

Stomata opens Stomata closes

CO2 Food

H2O
Glucose
 What happens to the food we eat?
Ingestion

Digestion

Absorption

Assimilation

Egestion
 What happens to the food we eat?
● Ingestion - The process of taking in the food.
● Digestion - Breakdown of food into smaller components that can be
absorbed into the bloodstream.
● Absorption - The process of absorption of digested food.
● Assimilation - Utilization of digested food for energy and for growth and
repair.
● Egestion - Removing undigested food from the body.
Nutrition in Amoeba
Nutrition in Humans
Digestive System

Alimentary Canal Associated Organs

● Alimentary Canal : A long hollow tube which contains organs through
which the food actually passes (Oesophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, etc.).

● Accessory Organs : Organs that helps in digestion but no food passes

through them (liver, pancreas, salivary glands, etc.).
Mouth (Buccal cavity)
● Food is ingested.
● Crushed and chewed with the help of teeth.
● Food is wetted with saliva to make its passage
smooth.
● Food is mixed with saliva with the help of muscular
tongue.
 Mouth (Buccal cavity)
Mouth → Salivary gland

Saliva → Watery fluid

Complex sugar

Simple sugar
Oesophagus (Food pipe)
● Food is pushed downwards due to rhythmic
contraction and relaxation of muscles and
is known as peristaltic (involuntary)
movements.
 Stomach
● J-shaped organ
● Widest part of alimentary canal
Liver
 Liver
● Secretes Bile Juice.
● Bile juice is stored in gallbladder.
● Bile juice makes food alkaline.
● Bile juice helps in emulsification of fats.
Liver
 Pancreas
Secretes pancreatic juice which contains enzymes like :

1. Trypsin : helps in digestion of proteins

2. Lipase : helps in breaking down of emulsified fats.
3. Pancreatic amylase : helps in digestion of carbohydrates.
 Small intestine
● 5-7 metres long
● Site of final digestion of food
● Secretes intestinal juice
Small intestine
 Absorption of food in Small intestine
● Villi are finger-like projections.
● Increases the surface area for
absorption.

● Richly supplied with blood vessels

which take the absorbed food to each
and every cell of the body.

● Food is utilised for obtaining energy,

building up new tissues and the repair
of old tissues and and the repair of
old tissues.
 Large intestine (Colon)
Absorption of Water
 Anus
Removal of undigested and unabsorbed food
 Why do herbivores have longer intestine than carnivores?
Herbivores consume producers like plants which contain cellulose in the cell wall of their
cells.
Digestion of cellulose in the gut takes a longer time and hence, the gut of herbivores is
longer than gut of carnivores.
M - Movement
R - Respiration
S - Sensitivity
G - Growth
R - Reproduction
E - Excretion
N - Nutrition
 Respiration
The process by which a living organism obtain energy(ATP) by breakdown
of food in cells.

Note - ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is the energy currency of the cell.

Breathing v/s Respiration
 Respiration

Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

Alcoholic Lactic acid

fermentation fermentation
Types of Respiration
*Important Concept*
 Exchange of gases in plants
Leaves - Stomata

O2

CO2
 Exchange of gases in plants
The major processes which involve exchange of gases in plants are:

Respiration
Photosynthesis

CO2
O2

O2
CO2
 Points to Remember!
● Exchange gases through stomata and lenticels.
● The large intercellular spaces ensure that all cells are in contact with
air.
● Carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged by diffusion here.
● The direction of diffusion depends upon environmental conditions
and the requirement of the plant.
 Respiration in Human
Passage of air through the respiratory system.
How does exchange of gases
occurs in human body?
Alveolus Gas Exchange
Red blood cell

Hemoglobin (Iron containing protein)

● Binds with O2 and helps in O2

transport.

● CO2 is transported in dissolved form.

 Affinity of haemoglobin to bind:
CO >O2 > CO2
Residual Volume
Volume of air remained inside lungs after forceful
exhalation. (1100 -1200 ml)
Respiration
1. Balloon-like or sac like structure.
2. Walls of alveoli are only one celled thick and
provide a surface where the exchange of gases
can take place.
3. Contain an extensive network of blood-vessels
which helps in exchange of gases.
● Gills are the respiratory organs for fishes. Fishes take in oxygen which is
dissolved in water through gills.
● Since, availability of oxygen is less in the aquatic environment, so the breathing
rate of aquatic organisms is faster.

● Insects have a system of spiracles and tracheae which is used for taking in
oxygen.
 Transportation
Transportation is a life process where substances synthesized or absorbed in
one part of the body are carried to other parts of the body.

Food
CO2, O2
Metabolic waste Blood
Hormones
 Circulatory System
1. Blood - Fluid Connective tissue

2. Blood Vessels - Tubes

3. Heart - Pumping Organ

 Blood
Blood is a liquid connective tissue which circulates throughout
the body by pumping action of heart.
Red Blood Cells - Circular,
biconcave and disc shaped.
Appear red due to the
presence of Haemoglobin.

White Blood Cells - Large,

nucleated and colourless.
Platelets - Cell fragments.
Function in blood clotting.
 Types of Blood Vessels
Transportation is a life process where substances synthesized or absorbed in
one part of the body are carried to other parts of the body.
 Valves in Veins
● Prevent backflow of the blood.
● Blood is under low pressure in veins.
Blood Vessels - Tubes in which blood flows.

1. Artery - Away from the heart

Oxygenated blood
Pressure is high.
2. Veins - Towards the heart.
Deoxygenated blood.
Pressure is low.
3. Capillaries - Exchange of substances.
● Largest Artery: Aorta

● Only artery that carries deoxygenated

blood: Pulmonary Artery

● Largest Vein: Vena Cava

● Only Vein that carries oxygenated

blood: Pulmonary Vein
Working of heart:
 Single and Double Circulation
Double Circulation: In a single
cycle, blood passes the heart
twice. So, it is called Double
Circulation and it is found in
birds and mammals only.

Single Circulation: In fishes, the

complete cycle of blood passes
through heart only once. So, it is
called Single Circulation.
Double Circulation
● Pisces: 2-chambered heart, Single circulation, Cold blooded
● Amphibians: 3-chambered heart, Incomplete double circulation, Cold
blooded.
● Reptiles: 4-chambered heart, Incomplete double circulation, Cold blooded.
● Aves: 4-chambered heart, Complete double circulation, Warm blooded.
● Mammals: 4-chambered heart, Complete double circulation, Warm
blooded.
 Why we need chambers in the heart?
● To prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

● More oxygen will be supplied to body organs in better way.

● Highly efficient supply to oxygen to the body.

● More respiration leading to more energy production.

 Blood pressure
Pressure exerted by blood in walls of blood vessel.
1. Systolic Pressure : The pressure of
blood inside the artery during ventricular
systole (contraction).

2. Diastolic Pressure : The pressure in

artery during ventricular diastole
(relaxation).

Hypertension - high blood pressure

(Construction of arterioles)
 Lymph
Lymphatic System:

Lymph Fluid

Lymph Vessel

Lymph Nodes
 Functions of Lymph
● Fluid balance : Drains excess fluid from extracellular space back into the
blood.
● Fat transport : Lymph carries digested and absorbed fat from intestine and
transport to bloodstream.
● Immune System: Transports foreign material (ex-pathogen) to lymph
nodes for disposal.
 Transportation in Plants
● Transportation of water, minerals and food is necessary to carry out
various biological activities.
● The water and minerals are absorbed from the soil by the roots of the
plant and transported to various parts of plants like stem, leaves and
flowers.
● Food is transported from leaves to developing parts of plants.
● In plants transportation is done by a specialised vascular system made
up of: 1. Xylem 2. Phloem
Transportation in Plants
 Transportation in Plants
Ascent of Sap - Xylem
Transport of water and minerals from root to upward direction against
gravity via xylem tissue.
(1) Tracheid
(2) Trachea or vessel
(3) Xylem parenchyma and
(4) Xylem sclerenchyma.
 Functions of Transpiration:
1. Transpiration helps in the absorption and upward movement of water and
minerals dissolved in it from roots to the leaves.

2. It also helps in temperature regulation.

3. Transpiration helps to get rid of excess water.

 Translocation
● Upward and downward movements to food via phloem .

● Utilises ATP.

Sieve Tubes Phloem Fibre

(living) (dead)

Companion Cells
Phloem Parenchyma
(living)
(living)
 Excretion
Excretion is the process by which organisms expel metabolic waste products
and other toxic substances from their body.

Metabolic waste:
● Carbon dioxide ● Excess water
● Excess mineral salts ● Nitrogenous waste - nitrogen containing

Ammonia Urea Uric Acid

Excretory System
Nephron
1. Glomerular Filtration: Nitrogenous wastes,
glucose, water, amino acid, excessive salts
from the blood are filtered and initial
filtrate enters into Bowman Capsule of the
nephron.
2. Selective reabsorption: Useful
substances like glucose, amino acids,
salts and a major amount of water
from the filtrate are reabsorbed back
by capillaries surrounding the
nephron.
3. Tubular Secretion: Urea, extra
water and salts are secreted into the
tubule which open up into the
collecting duct and then into the
ureter.
Hemodialysis (artificial kidney)
Plants use different strategies for excretion of different
products:

● Oxygen and carbon dioxide is diffused through stomata.

● Excess water is removed by transpiration.
● Plants can even loose some of their old parts like old leaves and bark of
tree.
● Many plant waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles.
● Other waste products like latex, raisins and gums are stored in old xylem
cells.
● Plants also secrete some waste substances into the soil around them.
Thank You!