Chapter 6- LIFE PROCESSES

1.Why is diffusicn insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular organisms

like humans?

Multicellular organisms such as humans possess complex body designs. They have specialised
cells and.tissues for performing various necessary functions of the body such as intake of food
and oxygen. Unlike unicellular organisms,multicellular cells are not in direct contact with the
outside environment. Therefore, diffusion cannot meet their oxygen requirements
2. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?
Any visible movement such as walking, breathing, or growing is generally used to decide whether
something is alive or not. However, a living organism can also have movements, which are not visible to
the naked eye. Therefore, the presence of life processes is a fundamentalcriterion tha can be used to
decide whether sömething is alive or not.
3. What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?
An organism uses outside raw materials mostly in the form of food and oxygen. The raw materials
{ required by an organism can be quite varied depending on the complexityof the organism and its
environment.
4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?
Life processes such as nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, etc. are essential for maintaining
life
5. Whatare the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition
Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition

(i) Food is synthesised from simple () Food isobtained directly or indirectly from
inorganic raw materials such as CO, autotrophs. This food is broken down with the
and water. help of enzymes.

(i) Presençe of green pigment (i) No pigment is required in this type of nutrition.
(chlorophyll) is necessary.

(i) Food is generally prepared during day (iii) | Foodcan be prepared at alltimes.
time.

(iv) All green plants and some bacteria (iv) All animals and fungi have this type of nutrition
have this type of nutrition.

6. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?
The following raw materials are required for photosynthesis:
" The raw material CO, enters from the atmosphere through stomata.
"Water is absorbed from the soil by the plant roots.
"Sunlight, an important component to manufacture food, is absorbed by the chlorophyll and other
green parts of the plants.
7. What isthe role ofthe acid in
our stomach? medium,. In thie
hydrochloric acid present in our stomach dissolves bits of food and creates an acidic
The enzyme
converted to pepsin, which is a protein-digesting
acidic medium, enzyme pepsinogen is
8.What is the function of digestive enzymes?
trypsin, etc. help in the breaking down of complex
Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, pepsin, thus
particles can be easily absorbed by the blood and
food particles into simple ones. These simple
transported to all the cells of the body.
food?
9. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested
projections called villi. These villi increase the surface
The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like
blood vessels are present that absorb
area for more efficient food absorption. Within these villi, maný the absorbed food is
thedigested food and carry it to the blood stream. From the blood stream,
delivered to each and every cell of the body.
10.What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to
obtaining oxygen for respiration
Terrestrialorganisms take up oxygen from the atmosphere whereas aquatic animals need to utilize
in air is
oXygen present in the water. Air contains more O, as compared to water. Since the content of 0,
high, the terrestrial animals do not have to breathe faster to get more oxygen. Therefore, unlike aquatic
animals, terrestrial animals do not have to show various adaptations for better gaseous exchange.
11. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various organisms?
Glucose is first broken down in the cellcytoplasm into a three carbon molecule called pyruvate.
Pyruvate is further broken down by different ways to provide energy.
The breakdown of glucose by different pathways can be illustrated as follows.
Glucose

Pyruvate + Energy

In human muscle In mitochondria

cells

Ethasol + Lactic acid CO1

Water +
CO +
Eneryy energy Energy

In yeast and human muscle cells, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the absence of oxygen whereas in
mitochondria, the breakdownof pyruvate occurs in the presence of oxygen.
12. How is osygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?
Haemoglobintransportsoxygen molecule to all the body cells for cellular respiration. The hemoglobin
pigment present in the bloodgets attached to four O, molecules that are obtained from breathing. It
thus forms oxyhaemoglobin and the blood becomes oxygenated. This oxygenated blood is then
distributed to allthe body cells by the heart. After giving away O, to the body cells, blood takes away
Co, which isthe end productof cellular respiration. Now the blood becomes de-oxygenated.
Since haemoglobin pigment has less affinity for CO, CO, is mainly transported in the dissolved form.
This de-oxygenated bloodgives CO, to lung alveoli and takes 0, in return.
Transportation of 0, and CO,in blood
13. How are the lungs designedin human beings to maximize the area for exchange of gases?
The exchange of gases takes place between the blood of the capillaries that surround the alveoli and
the gases present in the alveoli. Thus,alveoli are the site for exchange of gases. The lungs get filled up
with air during the process of inhalationas ribs are lifted up and diaphragm is flattened. The air that is
rushed inside the lungs fills the numerous alveoli present in the lungs.
 Each lung contains 300-350 million alveoli. These numerous alveoli increase the surface area for gaseous
exchange making the process of respiration more efficient.
14. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of
these components?
The main components of the transport system in human beings are the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
Heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It receives deoxygenated blood from the various
body parts and sends this impure blood tothe lungs for oxygenation.
Being a fluid connective tissue, blood helps in the transport of oxygen, nutrients, CO2, and nitrogenous
wastes.
The blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries).carry blood either away from the heart to various
organs or from various organs back to the heart.
15. Why is it necessary toseparste oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?
Warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals maintain a constant body temperature by cooling
themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming their boies when they are in a
cooler environment. Hence, these animals require more oxygen (0,) for more cellular respiration so that
they can produce more energy to maintain their body temperature.
Thus, it is necessary for them to separate oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood, so that their circulatory
system is more efficient andcan maintain their constant body temperature.
16. What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?
In highly organized plants, there are twodifferent types of conducting tissues - xylem and phloem.
Xylem conducts water and minerals obtained from the soil (via roots) to the rest of the plant. Phloem
transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant body.
17. How is food transported in planta?
Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant body. The
transportation of food in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy from ATP. As a result of this, the osmotic
pressure in the tissue increases causing water to move into it. This pressure moves the material in the
phloem to the tissues which have less pressure. This is helpful in moving materials according to the
needs of the plant. For example, the food material, such as sucrose, is transported into the
phloem
tissue using ATP energy.
Components of phloem tisssue
18. HoW are water and minerals transported in plants?
The components of xylem tissue (tracheids and vessels) of roots, stems, and leaves are
toform a continuous system of water-conducting channels that reaches all parts of interconnected
the plant.
Transpiration creates a suction pressure, as a result of which water is forced into the xylem cells of the
roots. Then there is a steady movement of water from the root xylem to all
( the interconnected water-conducting channels the plant parts through
19. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.
Nephrons are the basic filtering units of kidneys. Each kidney possesses large number of
approximately 1-1.5 million. The main components of the nephron are glomerulus, Bowman's nephrons,
and a long renal tubule. capsule,
1Suwnun's Gupsul -Renl rtetry
<loeulus
Tubuaar rt f p n

-Colouu duot

-L.Kp of berle
 Functioning of anephron:
The blood enters the through the renal artery, which branches into many capillaries associated
with glomerulus. kidney
ne water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman'scapsule.
n tne proximal tubule, some substances such as amino acids, glucose, and salts are selectively
reabsorbed and unwanted molecules are added in the urine.
Ihe filtrate then moves down into the loo% of Henle. where more water iS absorbed.
From here, the filtrate moves upwards into the distal tubule and finally to the collecting duct. Collecting
duct colects urine from many
nephrons.
Ine urine formed in each kidney enters along tube called ureter. From ureter, it gets transported to the
urinary bladder and then into the urethra.
20. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory
products?
Plants can get rid of excess of water by transpiration. Waste materials may be stored in the cell vacuoles
or as gum and resin, especially in old xylem. It is also stored in the leaves that later fall off
19. How is the amcunt of urine produced regulated? Where does this process take
Ihe amount of urine produced depends on the amount of excess water and plate?
dissolved
the body. Some other factors such as habitat of an Organism and hormone such as wastes present in
hormone (ADH) also regulates the amount of urine Anti-diuretic
20. How are fats digested in our bodies? produced.
Fats are present in the form of large globules in the small intestine. The
small intestine gets the
secretions in the form of bile juice and pancreatic juice respectively from the liver and the pancreas. The
bile salts (from the liver) break down the large fat
globules into smaller globules sothat the pancreatic
enzymes can easily act on them. This is referred to as emulsification of fats. It takes
intestine. place in the small
21. What is the role of saliva in the
digestion of food?
Saliva is secreted by the salivary glands, located under the tongue. It moistens the food for easy
swallowing. it contains a digestive enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks down starch intosugar
22. What are the necessary conditions for
autotrophic nutrition and what are its by-products?
Autotrophic nutrition takes place through the process of
photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide, water,
chlorophyll pigment, and sunlight are the necessary conditions
required for autotrophic nutrition.
Carbohydrates (food) and O, are the by-products of photosynthesis.
6CO, + 6H,0 Sunlight Chiorophyl >CH;O,+60,
23.What are the differences between aerobic and
use the anaerobic mode of respiration. anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that

Aerobic respiration
( Anaerobic respiration
1 It occurs in the presence of 02.
1 It occurs in the absence
of 02.
2. It involves the exchange of gases
between the organisrn and the 2. Exchange of gases is
outside environment.
absent.
3. It occurs in cytoplasm and mitochondria.
3. It occurs only in
cytoplasm.
 4. It always releases C02 and H20.
4 End products vary.
5. It yields 36 ATPs.
5 It yields only 2 ATPs.
Anaerobic respiration occurs in the roots of some waterlogged plants,
some parasitic worms, animal
muscles, and some micro-organisms such as yeasts.
24. How are the alveoli designed to maximize the
exchange of gases?
The alveoliare the smallballoon-like structures present in the lungs. The walls of the alveoliconsist of
extensive network of blood vessels. Each lung contains 300-350 million alveoli, making
approximately 700 million in both the lungs. The alveolar surface when spread out coversit aabout
total of
80 m
area. This large surface area makes the gaseous exchange more
efficient.

-Bronchiole

Capltary
-Abveolus
25.What would be the consequences of a deficiency of
haemoglobin in our bodies?
Haemoglobin is the respiratory pigment that transports oxygen to the body cells for cellular respiration.
Therefore, deficiency of haemoglobin in blood can affect the oxygen supplying capacityof blood. This
can lead to deficiency of oxygen in the body cells. It can also lead to
a disease called anaemia.
26. Describe double circulation in human beings.
Why is it necessary?
The human heart is divided into four chambers - the right
the left ventricle.
atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and
Flow of blood in the heart:
The heart has superior and inferior vena cava, which carries
lower regions of the body respectively and supplies this de-oxygenated blood from the upper and
heart.
de-oxygenated blood to the right atfium of the

Vena cana from

4yper body
-Aorta
Right atrim -Pumunsy ardeies
Ven cva fruos
lower bods -Pulmoaay veins
Left aiun

Right vntricle Left ventricie

Flow of blood in the human heart

The right atrium then contracts and passes the
de-oxygenated blood to the right ventricle, through an
auriculo-ventricular aperture.
Then the right ventricle contracts and passes the
de-oxygenated blood into the two pulmonary arteries,
which pumps it to the lungs where the blood becomes
transport the oxygenated blood to the left atrium of theoxygenated.
heart.
From the lungs, the pulmonary veins
 C
Then the left atrium contracts and through the auriculo-ventricular aperture, the
enters the lefteventricle.
oxygenated blood

The blood passes to aorta from the left ventricle. The aorta gives rise to many arteries that distribute the
Oxygenated blood to all the regions of the body.
Lung capllnes

Pulmonar Pulmonary
arty tu lungs Vein to kungs

Vunacava Aorta to
fon bocy body

Caniltaries of hdy
organs art fron the hngs
Schematic diagram of blood circulation in humans
Therefore, the blood goes twice through the heart. This is known as double circulation.
Importance of double circulation:
The separation of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood allowsa more efficient supply of oxygen to the
body cells. This efficient system of oxygen supply is very useful in warm-blooded animals such as human
beings.
As we know, warm-blooded animals have to maintain a constant body
temperature by cooling
themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming their bodies when they are in a
cooler environment. Hence, they require more O, for more respiration so that they can produce more
energy to maintain their body temperature. Thus, the circulatory system of humans is more efficient
because of the double circulatory heart.
27. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem
Transport of materials in xylem Transport of materials in phloem
() Xylem tissue helps in the transport of water and () Phloem tissue helps in the transport
minerals. of food.

(ii) Water is transported upwards from roots to all (ii) Food is transported in both upward
other plant parts. and downward directions.

(ii) Transport in xylem occurs with the help of simple (iii) Transport of food in phloem requires
physical forces such as transpiration pull. energy in the form of ATP
28. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their
structure and functioning
Alveoli Nephron

Structure Structure
(i) Alveoli are tiny balloon-like (0) Nephrons are tubular structures present inside the kidneys.
structures present inside the (i) Nephrons are made of glomerulus, bowman's capsule, anda long
lungs. renal tube. It also contains a cluster of thin-walled capillaries.
(ii) The walls of the alveoli are FuFction
one cell thick and it contains an () The blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery which
extensive network of blood branches into many capillaries in the glomerulus.The water añd
capillaries. solute are transferred to the., nephron at Bowman's capsule. Then the
filtrate moves thróugh the proximal tubule and then down into the
Function loop of henle. From henle's loop, filtrate passes into the distal tubule
() The exchange of O, and CO, and then to the collecting duct. The collecting duct collects the urine
takes place between the blood from many nephrons and passes it to the ureter. During the flowof
of the capillaries that surround filtrate, some substances such as glucose, amino acids, and water are
the alveoliand the gases selectively re-absorbed!
present in the alveoli.
(ii) Nephrons are the basic filtration unit.
(iü) Alveoliare the site of
gaseous exchange.

HoD's san