CHAPTER -6

LIFE PROCESSES
LIFE PROCESS
Ihe naintenance of living organisns must go on even at the conditions, when they are not
physically active. Even when we sit idle and during sleeping. this maintenance job through
cells functioning has to go on. The life process includes the activities performed by the
different organs to maintain the body.
Some of the life processes in the iving beings are described bekow:
> Nutrition
The process of obtaining encrgy through consumption of food is called as nutrition.
> Respiration
The process of acquiring oxygen through breathing and make it available to cells for
the process of breaking down of organic substances into simpler compounds is called as
respiration.

Transportation
Transportation is the process by which the food and oxygen is carried from one organ
to other organs in the body.
Excretion
Ih is the process by which the metabolic waste by-products are removed from the
different organs and released out from the body.
NUTRITION

The process by which an organism takes food and utilizes it is called nutrition.
NEED OF NUTRITION
Organisms need energy to perform various activities. The energy is supplied by the nutrients.
Organisms need various raw materials for growth and repair. These raw materials are provided
by nutrients.
NUTRIENTS
Materials which provide nutrition to organisns are called nutrients. Carbohydrates, proteins
and fats are the main nutrients and are called macronutrients. Minerals and vitamins are
required in small amounts and hence are called micronutrients.
TYPES QF NUTRITION:
Autotrophic Nutrition: The mode of nutrition in which an organism prepares its own
food is called autotrophic nutrition. Green plants and blue-green algae follow the
autotrophic mode of nutrition.
Heterotrophic Nutrition: The mode of nutrition in which an organism takes food from
another organism is called heterotrophic nutrition. Organisms; other than green plants
and blue-green algae follow heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION
Autotrophic organisms are able to produce organic matter from simple inorganic materials.
They consequently create their own food-but require a source of energy to do this.
> Photoautotrophs harvest energy from hight to produce organic matter.
> Chenoautotrophs use energy from inorganic reactions in the environment to drive the
creation of organic matter.

TYpes OF Nutrition

AUTOTROPHS HETEROTROPHS
(autos :self ; trophos : feed) Obtains energy through
Use simple inorganic substances intake &digestion of
and either light energy organicsubstances
(photosynthesis) or chemical (animal / plant tisssue)
energy (chemosynthesis) to
synthesise food.
 HETEROTROPHICNUTRIrTION
Heterotrophic nutritrion is typical of animals. These organisms eat organic matter in other
organismnseither alive (as hunters) or dead (as scavengers).
Saprotrophic organisms are the decay organisms. They digest dead materials using enzymes
that they secrete externally. Fungi and many bacteria are saprotrophes.
Parasites (biotrophs) feed on living organiss without killing them.
Heterotrophic nutrition can be further divided into two types, viz. saprophytic nutrition and
holozoic nutrition.
o Saprophytic Nutrition: In saprophytic nutrition; the organism secretes the
juices on the food. The food is digested while it is still to be ingested. The digestive
food is then ingested by the organism. All the decomposers follow digested
nutrition. Some insects; like houseflies; also follow this mode of nutrition. saprophytC
o Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition: the digestion happens inside the
body of
the organism, ie. after the food is ingested. Most of the animals follow this mode of
nutrition.

organisms

autotrophic heterotrophic

chemoautotrophic
(e.g.. nitrogen
cycle bacteria)
saprotrophic
(some bacteria.
fungi)

photoautotrophic
(green plants,
some protists,
purple sulfur
bacteria)
holozoic parasitic
(most animals, (some bacteria,
carnivorous plants, fungi. protists,
some protists) animals. plants)
 PLANT NUTRITION
Green plants prepare their own food. They make food in the presence of
provides energy. carbon dioxide and water are the raw materials sunlight. Sunignt
where food is made. and chloroplast is the Ste

Inflorescence

Host Slem

Paraste
Rools

PHOTOSYNTHESIS: The process by which green plants prepare food is called

photosymthesis. During this process; the solar energy is converted into chemical energy and
carboydrates are formed. Green leaves are the main sites of photosynthesis. The green portion
of the pant contains a pigment chloroplast; which contains chlorophyll. The wbole process of
photosynthesis can be shown by following equation:

6 CO:+6 H0 C&l1206 + 6O2

dondde
Ught enorgy

Photosynthesis given off into

ar

converted
STARCH
stored food
in other parts
of the plänt.
Chlorgphyll
traps i4ht turns iodine
nergy to dark blue
make foxod

absorbed from Carbon dioxide

theroots enters through the
STEPS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
stomataof the leaves
Sunlight activates chlorophyll; which leads to splitting of water
molecule.
 of
The hydrogen; rekeased by splitting of water molecule is utilized for reduction
carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates.
Oxygen is the byproduct
Carbohydrate of photosynthesis.
is subscquently converted into starch and is stored in leaves and other
storage parts.
The splitting of water molecules is part of the light reaction.
Other steps are part of the dark reaction during photosynthesis.
HOW DO RAWMATERIALS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS BECOME AVAILABLE TO
THE PLANT?
Water comes from soil; through the xylem tissue in roots and stems.
. Carbon dioxide comes in the leaves through stomata.
SIGNIFICANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
Photosynthesis is the main way through which the solar energy is made available tor
different living beings.
Green plants are the main producers of food in the ecosystem. All other organiss
directly or indirectly depend on green plants for food.
The process of photosynthesis also heips in maintaining the balance of carbon dioxide
and oxygen in the air.

Sunlight strikes chlorophyllmolecules

in leaves and is capured.

Chlorophy

Water Sluce
Carbon Dioxide
Oxygen
Water and carbon dioxide are taken
from the environment. Glucose is
formed and oxygen is released.
ANIMAL NUTRITION
Heterotrophic Nutrition: When an organism takes food from another organism, it is called
heterotrophic nutrition. Different heterotrophic organisms follow different methods to take and
utilize food. Based on this, heterotrophic nutrition can be divided into two types:
Saprophytic Nutrition: In saprophytic nutrition, the digestion of food takes place
before ingestion of food. This type of nutrition is usually seen in fungi and some other
microorganisms. The organism secretes digestive enzymes on the food and then ingests
the simple substances. Saprophytes feed on dead materials and thus help in
decomposition dead remains of plants and animals.
 Sporangium
Germinating
spore

Sporanglophore
hyphae

mycelium
digestve bread (food)
enzymes
digested food
is absorbed by rhizoid
Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition, the digestion of food follows after the
mgestion of food. Thus, digestion takes place inside the body of the organism. Holozoic
nutrition happens in five steps, viz. ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and
egestion.

HETEROTROPHIC

Holozoic Nutrition Saprophytism Parasitism

"The organism feed by Saprophytes. " Obtains nutrients

ingesting solid "Feed on dead and from living
organic matter which decaying matter. organisms
is then dige stedand " Include bacteria "The parasite
absorbed into their and fungi which obtains nutrients
bodies. digest the food by living on or in
Eg. human, animals externaly before the body of the
and insectivorous the nutrients are host.
plants absorbed. Eg. fleas, lice and
tapeworms

STEPS OF HOLOZOICNUTRITION
Ingestion: The process of taking in the food iscalled ingestion.
Digestion: The process of breaking complex food substances into simple molecules is
called digestion. Simple molecules;thus obtained; can be absorbed by the body.
Absorption: The process of absorption of digested food is called absorption.
Assimilation: The process of utilization of digested food: for energy and for growth and
repair is called assimilation.
Egestion: The process of removing undigested food from the body is caled egestion.
NUTRITION IN AMOEBA:

Holozoic nutrition in Amoeba

3
Amoeba Pseudopodia The food is enclosed
senses food. surround the food. in a food vacuole
(food + water).

4
Enzymes from the Food is di gested and Undigested
cytoplasm are soluble materials are
secreted into the absorbed and
waste is
food vacuole. assimilated (used up). expelled.

mode of nutrition. The cell membrane

Amoeba is a unicellular animal which follows holozoic
surrounds a food particle with
of amoeba keeps on protruding into pseudopodia. Amoeba
contains the food particle and water.
pseudopodia and makes a food vacuoe. The food vacuole
Digestive enzymes are secreted in the food vacuole and digestion takes place. Afer that,
vacuole moves near the cell
digested food is absorbed from the food vacuole. Finally, the food
membrane and undigested food is expelled out.
NUTRITION N HUMAN BENGS
The human
Human beings are complex animals; which have a compex digestive system. glands. The
accessory
digestive system is composed of an alimentary canal and some
alimentary canal is divided into several parts, viz. oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, arge
which
intestine, rectum and anus. Salivary gland, liver and pancreas are he accessory glands
lie outside the alimentary canal

STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Mouth or Buccal Cavity: The mouth has teeth and tongue. Salivary glands are also present in
helps
the mouth. The tongue has gustatory receptors which perceive the sense of taste. Tongue
in turning over the food, so that saliva can be properly mixed in it.
Teeth help in breaking down the food into smaller particles so that swallowing of food
becomes easier. There are four types of teeth in human beings. The incisor teeth are used for
cutting the food. The canine teeth are used for tearing the food and for cracking hard
substances. The premolars are used for coarse grinding of food. The molars are used for fine
grinding of food.
Salivary glands secrete saliva. Saliva makes the food slippery which makes it easy to swallow
the food. Salivaalso contains the enzyme salivary amylase or ptyalin. Salivary amylase digests
starch and converts it into sucrose.
 Human Digestive pharynx
System parotid
-oralcavity
sallvary
glands
-tongue
sublingual
submandibular
esophagus

diaphragm
liver
stomach
pancreas
galbladder -pancreatic duct
duodenum -commonbile duct
transverse colon -small intestine
ascending colon descending colon
COCum sigmoid colon
appendix rectum
anus anal canal

Stomach: Stomach is a bag-like organ. Highly muscular walls of the stomach help in churning
the food. The walls of stomach secrete hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid kills
the
which may be present in food. Moreover, it makes the medium inside stomach as acidic.germs
The
acidic medium is necessary for gastric enzymes to work. The enzyme pepsin; secreted in
stomach; does partial digestion of protein. The mucus; secreted by the walls of the stomach
saves the inner lining of stomach from getting damaged from hydrochloric acid.
Small Intestine: It is a highly coiled tube-like structure. The small intestine is longer than the
large intestine but its lumen is smaller than that of the large intestine. The small intestine is
divided into three parts, viz. duodenum, jejunum and ileum
Liver: Liver is the largest organ in the human body. Liver manufactures bile; which gets stored
in gallbladder. From the gall bladder, bile is released as and when required.
Pancreas: Pancreas is situated below the stomach. It secretes pancreatic juice which contains
many digestive enzymes.
Bile and pancreatic juice go to the duodenum through a hepato-pancreatic duct. Bile breaks
down fat into smaller particles. This process is called emulsification of fat. After that, the
enzyme lipase digests fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are enzymes
which digest protein into amino acids. Complex carbohydrates are digested into glucose. The
major part of digestion takes place in the duodenum.
No digestion takes place in jejunum. The inner wall in the ileum is projected into
finger-like structures; called villi. Villi increase the surface area inside the ileumnumerous
so that
optimum absorption can take place. Moreover, villi also reduce the lumen of the ileum so that
food can stay for longer duration in it; for optimum absorption. Digested food is absorbed by
villi.
Large Intestine: Large intestine is smaller than small intestine. Undigested food goes into the
large intestine. Some water and salt are absorbed by the walls of the large intestine. Afer that,
the undigested food goes to the rectum; from where it is expelled out through the anus.
Flow chart of human digestive system
Food Mouth Buccal cavity Pharynx

Cardiac Stomach Pyloric Stomach Oesophagus

Duodenum Small intestine Large intestine

Anus Rectum
Bile Pancreas

Health aspects of the alimentary canal