CHAPTER - 6

LIFE PROCESSES

Class :- X
Subject :- Science
Name of Teacher :- SONU RANI
CRITERIA TO DECIDE
WHETHWE SOMETHING
IS LIVING OR NOT
Movements in cells and tissues is necessary for all life processes.
Movement are of two types visible movement and invisible
movement.
 Life processes :-
Life processes are the basic processes in living organisms which
are necessary for maintaining their life. The basic life processes are
– nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion.
i)Nutrition :– is the process of taking food by an organism and its
utilization by the body for life processes.
ii)Respiration :– is the process by which food is burnt in the cells of
the body with the help of oxygen to release energy.
iii)Transportation :– is the process by which food, oxygen, water,
waste products are carried from one part of the body to the
other,
iv) Excretion :- is the process by which waste products are
removed
from the body.
 Nutrition :-
Nutrition is the process of taking food by an organism and
its utilisation by the body to build the body, for growth,
development, to repair the damaged parts of the body and for
energy.

Life on earth depends on carbon based molecules and most of

the food are also carbon based molecules. The outside raw
materials used by living organisms are food, water and air.

 Plants achieve this through photosynthesis, a process where

simple substances like carbon dioxide and water are transformed
into more complex carbohydrates using sunlight.

Unlike plants, animals cannot make their own food and rely on
consuming other plants or animals. They take in complex
substances and break them down into small, soluble molecules
that can be used for energy and growth.
•a) Modes of nutrition :- There are two main modes of
nutrition. They are autotrophic nutrition and
heterotrophic nutrition.
i)Autotrophic nutrition :- is nutrition in which
organisms prepare their own food from simple
inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water in
the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
• Eg :- all green plants and some bacteria.
ii)Heterotrophic nutrition :- is nutrition in which
organisms get their food directly or indirectly from
plants.
• Eg :- all animals fungi and some bacteria.
•b) Types of heterotrophic nutrition :- There are three
main types of heterotrophic nutrition. They are
saprophytic, parasitic and holozoic nutritions.
i) Saprohytic nutrition :- is nutrition in which organisms get their food
from dead and decaying organisms. They break down the food
material outside their body and then absorbs it. Eg :- mushroom,
bread mould, yeast, some bacteria etc.
ii) Parasitic nutrition :- is nutrition in which organisms get their food
from living organisms (host) without killing them. Eg :- cuscuta,
orchids, ticks, lice, leeches, round worm, tape worm, plasmodium
etc.
iii) Holozoic nutrition :- is nutrition in which organisms take food
directly (in complex form) and then digests and absorbs it. Eg :-
amoeba, paramaecium, birds, fishes, humans etc.
4) Nutrition in plants :-

Photosynthesis :- is the process by which plants prepare food by

using carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and
chlorophyll. The food prepared is carbohydrate which is stored in
the form of starch. Oxygen is released in this process.

Equation of photosynthesis :-
Sunlight
6CO2 + 12H2O C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2
Chlorophyll
 • Process of photosynthesis :-
• Photosynthesis takes place in three main steps. They are :-

i) Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll. Chlorophyll molecules

get excited.
ii) Conversion of light energy into chemical energy. Chlorophyll
molecule will split up and of water molecules into hydrogen and
oxygen.
iii) Reduction of carbon dioxide by hydrogen to form
carbohydrates.
 Stages of photosynthesis
The following events occur during this process –

(a) Light Reaction : Occurs in thylakoid membrane

1. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.

2. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) and

splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen in presence of
light (Photolysis of water).

(b) Dark Reaction: Occurs in Stroma

3. Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

Chlorophyll :- are the green pigments present in the
leaves. If we observe a cross section of a leaf under
a microscope, we can see cells containing green
dot like structures called chloroplasts which contain
chlorophyll.
ANATOMY OF LEAF
1.CO2: plants obtain CO2 from
atmosphere through stomata.
2.H2O: plant receive water from soil.
3.CHLOROPHYLL: it is present in
mesophyll cell inside the chloroplast.
4.SUNLIGHT: plants obtain sunlight
from sun.
Stomata :- are tiny pores present in the
leaves through which exchange of gases
takes place.
Each stoma has a pair of guard cells which
controls the opening and closing of the
stomatal pore.
When water enters the guard cells, it swells and the
pore opens and when the guard cells lose water, it
shrinks and the pore closes.
 5a) Activity to show that chlorophyll is necessary for
photosynthesis :-

Take a potted plant having variegated leaves (croton plant). Keep it in

a dark room for three days so that all the starch is used up. Then keep
it in sunlight for 6 hours. Then take a leaf from the plant and mark the
green areas of the leaf on a sheet of paper. Then dip the leaf in boiling
water to make it soft. Then dip the leaf in alcohol and heat it in a water
bath to decolourise it and remove the chlorophyll. Then wash the leaf
in water and dip it in dilute iodine solution. It will be seen that only the
green parts of the leaf turns blue black. This shows that chlorophyll is
necessary for photosynthesis.
 b) Activity to show that carbon dioxide is necessary for
photosynthesis :-

Take two potted plants of the same size and keep them in a dark
room for three days so that all the starch is used up. Then keep the
plants on separate glass plates. Keep a watch glass containing some
potassium hydroxide near one plant to absorb carbon dioxide. Cover
both the plants with bell jars and seal the bottom of the jars with
vaseline to make it air tight. Keep the plants in sunlight for three hours.
Then take a leaf from each plant and test for starch. The leaf of the
plant kept in the jar containing potassium hydroxide does not show
the presence of starch. This shows that carbon dioxide is necessary
for photosynthesis.
 • The significance of photosynthesis are:
• 1.Photosynthesis is important for sustaining life. It
is the ultimate source of Oxygen and energy for all
living organisms.
• 2.Photosynthesis provides food for all living beings.
The process of photosynthesis occurs in green
plants which are the primary producers in a food
chain.
• 3.Helps in growth and development of plants.
• 4.Fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide and release
oxygen in the atmosphere.
• 5.Necessary for the synthesis of organic
compounds from inorganic compounds.
• 6. Solar energy is converted into chemical energy
by utilizing simple raw materials like CO2 and H2O.
6) Nutrition in animals :-
a) Nutrition in amoeba :-
Amoeba is a unicellular animal living in water. It takes in food by
forming finger like projections called pseudopodia and forms a food
vacuole. Inside the food vacuole the food is digested and absorbed.
The undigested food is then sent out through the surface of the
cell.
• Amoeba shows the holozoic mode of nutrition which
involves the following given processes-

• Ingestion:
1. In the process of ingestion, the food is taken into the
body by swallowing.
2. Amoeba forms a food vacuole by using their false feet
(pseudopodia) and engulfing the food.
3. Thus, the process of engulfing the food is termed
phagocytosis.

• Digestion:
1. The process of breakdown of insoluble food materials
into smaller particles by the action of enzymes is called
digestion.
2. In the case of Amoeba, the food vacuoles go deeper into
the cells where enzymes act upon the food materials
and convert them into smaller ones.
• Absorption:
1. Absorption is the process of diffusion of digested food
particles into the cells.
2. Cells store the excess food in the form of lipids and
glycogen.

• Assimilation:

1. Assimilation is the process of obtaining energy from the

absorbed food molecules.
2. Amoeba utilizes the food and gains energy that is
required to perform all the life processes by its cell.

• Egestion:
1. Egestion is the process of eliminating all the undigested
food materials from the body cells.
2. In Amoeba, this process is completed by the rupturing of
the plasma membrane and thus the undigested food is
 b) Nutrition in Human beings :-
Nutrition in human beings takes place in the digestive system. It
consists of the alimentary canal and glands which produce
enzymes which breaks down food into smaller molecules.
The main organs of the digestive system are mouth, oesophagus,
stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The main glands
are salivary glands, gastric glands, liver, pancreas and intestinal
glands.
 PARTS OF ALIMANTARY CANAL
·Mouth
·Pharynx
·Esophagus
·Stomach DEODENUM

·Small intestine
JEJUNUM

ILEUM

·Large intestine COLON

·Anus RECTUM
 In the mouth :- the food is broken down into smaller particles by the teeth and
mixed with saliva from the salivary glands. Saliva contains the enzyme salivary
amylase which converts starch into sugar. Then the food passes through the
oesophagus into the stomach.
 Processes of the Mouth

·Mastication (chewing) of food

·Mixing masticated food with saliva
·Initiation of swallowing by the tongue
·Allowing for the sense of taste
 Pharynx
·Serves as a passageway for air and food
·Food is propelled to the esophagus
 Esophagus
 a long, thin, and muscular
tube that connects the
pharynx (throat) to the
stomach.
 Food and fluids are
propelled through the
esophagus into the
stomach
 The esophageal
sphincters normally
prevent the contents of
the stomach from flowing
back into the esophagus
or throat.
 Conducts food by
peristalsis
(slow rhythmic squeezing)
 Stomach

It serves as a muscular bag which is situated towards the left side of the abdominal
cavity, beneath the diaphragm. This vital organ acts as a storage for the food and
provides enough time to digest meals. The stomach also produces digestive
enzymes and hydrochloric acid that maintains the process of digestion.

•Mucous: It is an aqueous secretion produced by the mucous membranes. It

functions by protecting the stomach lining and gastric pits from the acid, which is
produced by the glands to destroy the bacteria that entered along with the food
particles.
•Digestive enzymes: pepsin which helpful in breakdown of protein into peptides.
Pepsin is present as propepsinogen form (inactive form) it become active in acidic
environment.
•Hydrochloric acid: It is the digestive fluid formed by the stomach during the
process of digestion. It functions by destroying harmful microorganisms present in
the food particles. It also help in activation of peopepsinogen into pepsin.

•Delivers chyme (processed food) to the small intestine

•Acts as a storage tank for food
 SMALL INTESTINE

 Absorbs about 90 % of the nutrients from the food we eat.

 The small intestine is called small because the diameter or
the width of the tube is much less than the large intestine.
 Small intestine is about 6 meters in length and
2.5 cm in diameter.
 The large intestine is about 1.5 meters in
length and 5 cm in diameter.
 Digested food passes through the wall of the intestine into
the blood vessels which then distribute the nutrition first
to the liver and then through the rest of the body.
1. Duodenum
· Attached to the stomach
· Curves around the head of the pancreas
2. Jejunum
· Attaches anteriorly to the duodenum
3. Ileum
· Extends from jejunum to large intestine
 In the upper part of the small intestine called duodenum :- the food
is mixed with bile from liver and pancreatic juice from the pancreas.
Bile breaks down fats into smaller globules. Pancreatic juice contains
the enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase. Trypsin,
chymotrypsin breaks down proteins, amylase breaks carbohydrate
and lipase breaks down fats.

In the small intestine :- the glands the walls of the small intestine
produces intestinal juice called SUCCUS-ENTERICUS. The enzymes of
the intestinal juice coverts carbohydrates into glucose, fats into fatty
acids and glycerol and proteins into amino acids. The walls of the
small intestine has several finger like projections called villi having
blood vessels. It helps to increase the surface area for the absorption
of digested food. The digested food is absorbed by the blood and
transported to all cells in the body. Then the undigested food passes
into the large intestine.
 PANCREAS ROLE
1.Pancreas is a gland that secretes pancreatic
juice which helps in the digestion of food.
2.Pancreatic juice has three pro-enzymes, i.e.,
trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen,
procarboxypeptidase (amylase) , lipase and
nuclease.
3.These help in the digestion of protein,
starch, fats, and nucleic acid.
4.trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen,
procarboxypeptidase are present in inactive
form which become active in duodenum (small
intestine) under basic conditions.
5.Trypsin and chymotrypsin works on proteins ,
it convert peptide into dipeptides.
6.Amylase works on carbohydrates and covert
it into maltose, sucrose and galctose.
 Liver

• Liver secrete- bile juices + bile salt + bile

pigment (Bilirubin- WHICH PROVIDE
COULOUR TO THE FECCAL MATERIAL).

• These are stored in gall bladder which are

then secreted into the duodenum (small
intestine).
VILLI STRUCTURE
ABSORPTION OF DIGESTED FOOD BY
BLOOD VESSELS
PANCREATIC ENZYMES
Enzymes secreted by small intestine

• 1. Amylase:
• Maltase – convert maltose into glucose +
glucose
• Sucrase- convert sucrose into glucose +
fructose
• Lactase- convert lactose into glucose +
galactose

• 2. Lipase- convert diglyceride into glycerol +

fatty acid
 LARGE INTESTINE

A little fatter and a little smaller than the small intestine

Performs the vital task of absorbing water and vitamin K
and D while converting digested food into waste(feces).
It has two parts:
 Colon- ASCENDING COLON, TRANSVERSE COLON,
DESCENDING COLON
 Rectum- It is the last part of large intestine. The
remaining waste material is stored here as faeces before
being removed by defecation.
Anus-The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It helps
in removal of fecal waste.
 TRANSVERSE
COLON

DESCENDING
COLON
ASCENDING COLON
 DENTAL CARIES (TOOTH DECAY):
Tooth decay is damage to a tooth's
surface, or enamel. It happens when
bacteria in your mouth make acids that
attack the enamel. Tooth decay can lead
to cavities (dental caries), which are
holes in your teeth. If tooth decay is not
treated, it can cause pain, infection, and
even tooth loss.

Bacteria use sugar which is present in

mouth and convert it into lactic acid. This
acid negatively shifts pH in the mouth
7a) Respiration :-
Respiration is the process by which food is burnt in the cells of
the body with the help of oxygen to release energy. It takes place in
the mitochondria of the cells.
The energy released during respiration is used to make ATP
molecules (Adenosine tri phosphate) from ADP molecules (Adenosine
di phosphate) and inorganic phosphate.
Energy
ADP + Phosphate ATP
from respiration
Energy is stored in the cells in the form of ATP molecules. When the
cells need energy, ATP is broken down in the presence of water to form
ADP and energy is released.
water
ATP ADP + Energy
 b) Types of
respiration :-
There are two main types of respiration. They are aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
i)Aerobic respiration :- takes place in the presence of oxygen. It produces more energy.
The end products are carbon dioxide, water and energy. It takes place in most
organisms.
In aerobic respiration glucose is converted into pyruvate in the cytoplasm in the
presence of oxygen and then in the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted into
carbon dioxide, water and energy in the mitochondria.
presence of oxygen presence of oxygen
Glucose Pyruvate CO2 + H2O + Energy in cytoplasm
in mitochondria
ii)Anaerobic respiration :- takes place in the absence of oxygen. It produces less energy.
The end products are lactic acid or ethanol, carbon dioxide, and energy. It takes place in
muscle cells and yeast.
In anaerobic respiration in muscle cells, glucose is converted into pyruvate and in the
absence of oxygen pyruvate is converted into lactic acid and energy.
presence of oxygen absence of oxygen
Glucose Pyruvate Lactic acid + Energy in cytoplasm
in muscle cells
In anaerobic respiration in yeast, glucose is converted into pyruvate and in the
absence of oxygen pyruvate is converted into ethanol, carbondioxide and energy. This
process is called fermentation.
presence of oxygen absence of oxygen
Glucose Pyruvate Ethanol + CO2 + Energy in cytoplasm
in yeast
 Breakdown of glucose by various pathways :-

presence
of
oxygen
C
O
presence absence 2

of of oxygen
+
Glucose oxygen Pyruvate Lactic acid + Energy
in cytoplasm + (in muscle H
Energy cells) 2
O
absence
+
of oxygen
EEthanol +
n
eCO2 +
rEnergy
(in yeast) g
 b) Respiration in Humans :-
The main organs of the respiratory system are nostrils, nasal cavity,
pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs and diaphragm.
 Air enter through the nostrils. The hairs and mucous traps the dust
particles. It then passes through the phraynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi
and enters the lungs. The trachea has rings of cartilage which
prevents it from collapsing when there is no air in the trachea. The
bronchi divides into smaller tubes called bronchioles which ends in
tiny air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli is supplied with blood vessels
through which exchange of gases takes place. The alveoli helps to
increase the surface area for the exchange of gases.
 Mecahanism of breathing :-
When we breathe in air, the muscles of the diaphragm contracts and
moves downward and the chest cavity expands and air enters into
the lungs.
When we breathe out air, the muscles of the diaphragm relaxes and
moves upward and the chest cavity contracts and air goes out of
the lungs.
8) Transportation :-
a) Transportation in Human beings :-
The main transport system in human beings is the
circulatory system. It consists of blood, arteries, veins
capillaries and heart.
i)Blood :- transports food, oxygen and waste products. It consists of
plasma, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets.
Plasma transports food, water, carbondioxide, nitrogenous waste etc.
Red blood cells transports oxygen. White blood cells kills harmful
microbes and protects the body. Platelets help in clotting of blood and
prevents loss of blood during injury.
ii)Arteries :- carry pure blood from the heart to all parts of the body.
They are thick walled and do not have valves.
iii)Veins :- carry impure blood from all parts of the body to the
heart. They are thin walled and have valves.
iv)Capillaries :- are very narrow blood vessels which connects
arteries and veins together. The exchange of food, water, oxygen,
carbon dioxide etc. between the blood and cells take place
through the capillaries.
v) Heart :- is a muscular organ which pumps blood to all parts of the
body. It has four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria and the
lower chambers are called ventricles. Since the ventricles pump blood
to the different organs its walls are thicker than the atria. The right and
left chambers are separated by a septum. It prevents the mixing of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood The atria and ventricles have
valves between them to prevent blood flowing backward.

xxxx
vein

xxxxxxxx
artery

xxxxx heart
Working of the heart (Circulation of blood) :-
 Working of the heart ( Circulation of blood ) :-
When the left atrium relaxes oxygenated blood from the lungs flows
into it through the pulmonary vein. When it contracts, the left
ventricle expands and the blood flows into it. Then the left ventricle
contracts and the oxygenated blood is pumped out through the aorta
to all parts of the body. After circulating through all parts of the body
the deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the vena
cava.
When the right atrium contracts, the right ventricle expands and the
blood flows into it. Then the right ventricle contracts and the blood is
pumped to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. In the lungs carbon
dioxide is removed and oxygen is absorbed and the oxygenated blood
again enters the left atrium and the process repeats.
Since blood flows through the heart twice in one cycle, it is called
double circulation.

Lymph :- is a colourless fluid present in intercellular spaces. It

is formed from the plasma which escapes from the capillaries.
Lymph drains into lymphatic capillaries which forms lymph vessels
and joins into large veins.
Lymph transports digested fats and drains excess fluids from
intercellular spaces back into the blood. It contains lymphocytes
which kills germs and protects the body
 amphibians, reptiles, and
i)The heart in mammals :- and birds have four chambers and the right and left

fishes
provides :-
sides of the heart is separated by a septum. This prevents mixing of oxygenated
and deoxygenated blood and efficient supply of oxygen. This is
necessary because they need more energy to maintain their body temperature.
ii)The heart in amphibians and reptiles :- have three chambers and allows some
mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood because the do not use energy to
maintain their body temperature. Their body temperature is the same as the
temperature of the surroundings.
iii)The heart in fishes :- have only two chambers and blood is oxygenated in the
gills.
 b) Transportation in plants :-
In plants, transportation of materials like food, water and minerals
takes place through conducting tissues called xylem and phloem.
i) Xylem :- transports water and minerals from the roots to all parts
of the plant. It consists of xylem vessels and tracheids. Water and
minerals enter the roots by diffusion. Then due to transpiration, the
suction force helps in the upward movement of water an minerals.
 translocation. The phloem consists
of sieve tubes and companion cells.
Food from the leaves is transferred
to the xylem by the energy of ATP
molecules. Due to osmotic pressure
water enters the phloem and helps
in the transport of food.
9) Excretion :-
Excretion is the process by which the waste products produced
during metabolic activities is removed from the body.
In unicellular organism the waste products are removed from
the cells into the surroundings by diffusion.
In multicellular organisms the waste prducts are removed
through specialised organs.
a) Excretion in Human beings :-
The excretory system consists of a pair of kidneys , a pair of
ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. Each kidney has a number
of excretory units called nephrons.
Nephron :-
Each nephron has a cup like structure called Bowman’s capsule
containing a bundle of capillaries called glomerulus. The Bowman’s
capsule leads into a tubular structure which joins into a collecting duct.
The renal artery brings the nitrogenous waste like ammonia, urea, uric
acid (urine) along with excess water, salts etc. into the nephron. It filters
the nitrogenous waste, water and salts which passes through the
tubular structure into the collecting duct. The waste then passes
through the ureters into the urinary bladder and is then sent out
through the urethra
as urine.
The useful products like amino acids, glucose, salts etc. are
reabsorbed by the capillaries around the tubular structure and goes
into the real vein.
b) Excretion in plants :-
In plants the gaseous waste products produced during respiration
(CO2) and photosynthesis (O2) are removed through the stomata. Excess
water is removed through the stomata. This process is called
transpiration.
Some waste products are stored in the leaves and removed when
the leaves dry and fall off. Some waste products are stored in
vacuoles.
Some waste products like gums and resins are stored in the old