GREEN PARK INTERNATIONAL SR. SEC.

SCHOOL, NAMAKKAL
X – BIOLOGY
MATERIAL

CHAPTER –6 LIFE PROCESSES

In text questions on Page no. 95

1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like
humans?
In the case of a single-celled organism, no specific organs for taking in food, exchange of
gases or removal of wastes may be needed because the entire surface of the organism is in contact
with the environment. But when the body size of the organism increases and the body design
becomes more complex, such as in multi-cellular organisms, all the cells may not be in direct contact
with the surrounding environment. Thus, simple diffusion will not meet the requirements of all the
cells.
Multi-cellular organism’s like humans have very big body and require a lot of oxygen to
diffuse into body quickly in order to meet the oxygen requirement. Diffusion is a slow process which
will take a lot of time to circulate oxygen to all the body cells. Because of its slow nature diffusion is
insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms like humans.

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 molecular movement inside the organisms
used to decide whether something is alive or not.

3. What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?

Outside raw materials used by an organism are food and oxygen. Raw materials requirement
varies on the complexity of the organism and the environment it is living.
Plants – CO2, Water, Sunlight and O2.
Animals – Food, Water and O2
4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?
Life processes such as respiration, digestion, excretion, circulation and transportation are
essential for maintaining life.

In text questions on Page no. 101

1. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?
Autotrophic Nutrition Heterotrophic Nutrition
Organism prepare its own food and is not Organism does not prepare its own food and
dependent on any other organism. dependent on other organism for food.
Food is prepared from simple inorganic Food cannot be prepared from CO2, water,
substances like CO2, water, in the presence of sunlight. They consume organic matter.
sunlight.
Chlorophyll present for food preparation Chlorophyll is not present and hence cannot
prepare food.
Excess energy is stored in the form of starch. Excess energy is stored in the form of
glycogen.
Eg: Green plants, Algae and certain bacteria Eg: All the animals and fungi, most bacteria
have autotrophic mode of nutrition. have heterotrophic mode of nutrition
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2. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?
Plants require the following raw material for photosynthesis
i) CO2 is obtained from atmosphere through stomata
ii) Water is absorbed by plant roots from the soil.
iii) Sunlight is an essential raw material for photosynthesis.
iv) Nutrients are obtained by soil by plant roots.
3. What is the role of the acid in our stomach?
a. The hydrochloric acid creates an acidic medium which facilitates the action of the enzyme pepsin
which breaks down proteins.
b. HCL in the stomach also acts as protective barrier against many disease causing pathogens.

4. What is the function of digestive enzymes?

The food we ingest is in its complex nature. If it is to be absorbed from the alimentary canal,
it has to be broken into smaller molecules. This is done with the help of biological catalysts called
enzymes.
Some organisms utilize complex substances for their energy requirements. These complex
substances have to be broken down into simpler ones before they can be used for the upkeep and
growth of the body. To achieve this, organisms use bio-catalysts called enzymes.

5. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

The small intestine is the site of the complete digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Digested food is taken up by the walls of the intestine. The inner lining of the small intestine has
numerous finger-like projections called villi which increase the surface area for absorption. The villi
are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to each and every cell of the
body, where it is utilised for obtaining energy, building up new tissues and the repair of old tissues.

Enlarged view of Villus

In text questions on Page no. 105

1. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to
obtaining oxygen for respiration?
Animals have evolved different organs for the uptake of oxygen from the environment and
for getting rid of the carbon dioxide produced. Terrestrial animals can breathe the oxygen in the
atmosphere, but animals that live in water need to use the oxygen dissolved in water. Since the
amount of dissolved oxygen is fairly low compared to the amount of oxygen in the air, the rate of
breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial organisms.
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2. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various organisms?
The food material taken in during the process of nutrition is used in cells to provide energy
for various life processes. Diverse organisms do this in different ways – some use oxygen to break-
break
down glucose completely into carbon dioxide and water, some use other pathways that do not
involve
ve oxygen. In all cases, the first step is the break-down
break down of glucose, a six-carbon
six molecule, into a
three-carbon
carbon molecule called pyruvate. This process takes place in the cytoplasm. Further, the
pyruvate may be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This This process takes place in yeast during
fermentation. Since this process takes place in the absence of air (oxygen), it is called anaerobic
respiration. Breakdown of pyruvate using oxygen takes place in the mitochondria. This process
breaks up the three-carbon
bon pyruvate molecule to give three molecules of carbon dioxide. The other
product is water. Since this process takes place in the presence of air (oxygen), it is called aerobic
respiration. The release of energy in this aerobic process is a lot greater than th in the anaerobic
process. Sometimes, when there is a lack of oxygen in our muscle cells, another pathway for the
break-down
down of pyruvate is taken. Here the pyruvate is converted into lactic acid which is also a three-
three
carbon molecule. This build-upup of lactic
lactic acid in our muscles during sudden activity causes cramps.

Breakdown of glucose by various pathways

3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Respiratory pigments take up oxygen from the air in the lungs and carry it to tissues which
are deficient in oxygen before releasing it. In human beings, the respiratory pigment is haemoglobin
which has a very high affinity for oxygen. This pigment is present in the red blood corpuscles.
Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than oxygen is is and hence is mostly transported in the
dissolved form in our blood.

4. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for exchange of gases?
Within the lungs, the passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes which finally terminate in
balloon-like
like structures which are called alveoli.
The alveoli provide a surface where the exchange of gases can take place. The walls of the
alveoli contain an extensive network of blood-vessels.
blood vessels. We know that, when we breathe in, we lift
our ribs and flatten our diaphragm, and the chest cavity becomes larger as a result.
Because of this, air is sucked into the lungs and fills the expanded alveoli.
The blood brings carbon dioxide from the rest of the body for release into the alveoli, and the
oxygen in the alveolar air is taken up by blood in the alveolar blood vessels to be transported to
all the cells in the body. During the breathing cycle, when air is taken in and let out, the lungs
always contain a residual volume of air so that there is sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed
and for the carbon dioxide to be released.
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In text questions on Page no. 110

1. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of
these components?
Heart, blood and blood vessels are the main components of transport system in human beings.
Functions of these components
Heart: Heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It receives deoxygenated blood
from the various body parts and sends this impure blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
Blood: Blood transports oxygen, nutrients, CO2, and nitrogenous wastes.
Blood vessels: Blood vessels, arteries and veins carry blood to all parts of body.
2. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?
The separation of the right side and the left side of the heart is useful to keep oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood from mixing. Such separation allows a highly efficient supply of oxygen to the
body. This is useful in animals that have high energy needs, such as birds and mammals, which
constantly use energy to maintain their body temperature.
Mammals and birds are warm blooded animals which keep their body temperature constant
irrespective of the environment they leave. This process require lot of oxygen for more cellular
respiration so that warm blooded animals produce more energy to balance their body temperature.
Hence it is very important for warm blooded animals to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood to keep their circulatory system efficient.

3. What are the components of the transport system in highly organized plants?
There are two types of conducting tissues in highly organized plants that carry out transport system
a) Xylem - Xylem conduct water and minerals from roots to rest of the plant parts.
b) Phloem - Similarly Phloem transports soluble products of photosysthesis from leaves to other
parts of the plant.

4. How are water and minerals transported in plants?

In xylem tissue, vessels and tracheids of the roots, stems and leaves are interconnected to
form a continuous system of water-conducting channels reaching all parts of the plant. At the roots,
cells in contact with the soil actively take up ions. This creates a difference in the concentration of
these ions between the root and the soil. Water, therefore, moves into the root from the soil to
eliminate this difference. This means that there is steady movement of water into root xylem,
creating a column of water that is steadily pushed upwards. However, this pressure by itself is
unlikely to be enough to move water over the heights that we commonly see in plants. Plants use
another strategy to move water in the xylem upwards to the highest points of the plant body. The
water which is lost through the stomata (transpiration) is replaced by water from the xylem vessels in
the leaf. In fact, evaporation of water molecules from the cells of a leaf creates a suction which pulls
water from the xylem cells of roots. Thus, transpiration helps in the absorption and upward
movement of water and minerals dissolved in it from roots to the leaves. The effect of root pressure
in transport of water is more important at night. During the day when the stomata are open, the
transpiration pull becomes the major driving force in the movement of water in the xylem.

5. How is food transported in plants?

The transport of soluble products of photosynthesis is called translocation and it occurs in the
part of the vascular tissue known as phloem. Besides the products of photosynthesis, the phloem
transports amino acids and other substances. These substances are especially delivered to the storage
organs of roots, fruits and seeds and to growing organs. The translocation of food and other
substances takes place in the sieve tubes with the help of adjacent companion cells both in upward
and downward directions. The translocation in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy. Material like
sucrose is transferred into phloem tissue using energy from ATP. This increases the osmotic pressure
of the tissue causing water to move into it. This pressure moves the material in the phloem to tissues
which have less pressure. This allows the phloem to move material according to the plant’s needs.
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In text questions on Page no. 112

1. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons

Each kidney has large numbers of filtration units called nephrons packed close together. Main
components of Nephrons are
Glomerulus
Bowman’s capsule
Long renal Tube
Collecting Duct
Each capillary cluster in the kidney is associated with the cup-shaped end of a coiled tube
called Bowman’s capsule that collects the filtrate. Some substances in the initial filtrate, such as
glucose,amino acids, salts and a major amount of water, are selectively re-absorbed as the urine
flows along the tube. The amount of water re-absorbed depends on how much excess water there is
in the body, and on how much of dissolved waste there is to be excreted. The urine forming in each
kidney eventually enters a long tube, the ureter, which connects the kidneys with the urinary bladder.
Urine is stored in the urinary bladder until the pressure of the expanded bladder leads to the urge to
pass it out through the urethra.

Structure of Nephron

Functioning of Nephron

The blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, which branches into many capillaries
associated with glomerulus.
The water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman's capsule.
In the proximal tubule, some substances such as amino acids, glucose, and salts are selectively
reabsorbed and unwanted molecules are added in the urine.
The filtrate then moves down into the loop 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
collects urine from many nephrons.
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The urine formed in each kidney enters a long tube called ureter. From ureter, it gets transported
to the urinary bladder and then into the urethra.

2. What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?
Water, a by-product of photosynthesis is also an excretory product. Plants get rid of excess
water by transpiration. For other wastes, plants use the fact that many of their tissues consist of dead
cells, and that they can even lose some parts such as leaves. Many plant waste products are stored in
cellular vacuoles. Waste products may be stored in leaves that fall off. Other waste products are
stored as resins and gums, especially in old xylem. Plants also excrete some waste substances into
the soil around them.

3. How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

The amount of water re-absorbed depends on how much excess water there is in the body,
and on how much of dissolved waste there is to be excreted. Other factors may be environment and
hormones which regulate the production of urine.

Exercise questions on Page no. 113

4. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?
The small intestine is the place for complete digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It
receives the secretions of the liver and pancreas for this purpose.
The food coming from the stomach is usually acidic in nature and it has to be made alkaline so
that pancreatic enzymes can act on it. Bile juice produced in the liver accomplishes this process.
Fats are usually present in the intestine in the form of larger globules, which makes it difficult for
enzymes to act on them. The bile salts helps in breaking down larger globules into smaller
globules. The pancreas helps in secreting pancreatic juice, which contains enzymes like trypsin
for digesting proteins and lipase for breaking down emulsified fats.
The walls of the small intestine contains glands, which secretes intestinal juice. The enzymes
present in it finally converts the proteins to amino acids, complex carbohydrates into glucose and
finally fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

5. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Food we intake is complex in nature, if it is to be absorbed from the alimentary canal then it
has to be broken into smaller molecules. This process is mainly done with the help of biological
catalysts called enzymes. The saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase that breaks down
starch, which is a complex molecule to give sugar. The food is mixed thoroughly with saliva and
moved around the mouth while chewing the muscular tongue. Hence saliva plays a pivotal in
digestion and absorption of food.
6. What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its byproducts?
The energy and carbon requirements of autotrophic organisms is obtained by the process of
photosynthesis.
It is defined as the process by which autotrophs take in substances from the outside surroundings
and convert them into stored forms of energy.
This substance is taken in the form of carbon dioxide and water, which is converted into
carbohydrates in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
The main purpose of carbohydrates is to provide energy to the plant. The carbohydrates are not utilized
immediately; but they are stored in the form of starch, which serves as an internal energy reserve.
The stored energy can be used as and when required by the plant.
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7. What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that
use the anaerobic mode of respiration?

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

The process takes place in the presence of The process takes place in the absence of the
free oxygen free oxygen.
The products of aerobic respiration are The products of anaerobic respiration are
CO2, water and energy ethyl alcohol, CO2 and a little energy.
The first step of aerobic respiration Even in anaerobic respiration, the first step
(glycolysis) takes place in cytoplasm while takes place in cytoplasm while the next step
the next step takes place in mitochondria. takes place in mitochondria.
In this process complete oxidation of In this process the glucose molecules is
glucose takes place. incompletely broken down.
The process of aerobic respiration takes The process of anaerobic respiration takes
place in all higher organisms. place in lower organism like yeast, some
species of bacteria and parasites like
tapeworm.

8. How are the alveoli designed to maximize the exchange of gases?

Within the lungs, the passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes which finally terminate in
balloon-like structures which are called alveoli.
The alveoli provide a surface where the exchange of
gases can take place. The walls of the alveoli contain
an extensive network of blood-vessels. We know that,
when we breathe in, we lift our ribs and flatten our
diaphragm, and the chest cavity becomes larger as a
result.
Because of this, air is sucked into the lungs and fills
the expanded alveoli. The blood brings carbon
dioxide from the rest of the body for release into the
alveoli, and the oxygen in the alveolar air is taken up
by blood in the alveolar blood vessels to be
transported to all the cells in the body. During the
breathing cycle, when air is taken in and let out, the lungs always contain a residual volume of air
so that there is sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be
released.

9. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?

Haemoglobin is a respiratory pigment present on RBCs responsible for transportation of
oxygen to the body cells for cellular respiration. Deficiency of Haemoglobin can affect the oxygen
carrying capacity of RBC’S. This lead to lack of oxygen in our body cells. Haemoglobin deficiency
leads to a disease called as anemia.

10. Describe double circulation of blood in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Double Circulation:
Because both oxygen and carbon dioxide have to be transported by the blood, the heart has
different chambers to prevent the oxygen-rich blood from mixing with the blood containing carbon
dioxide. The human heart is divided into four chambers − the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left
atrium and the left ventricle.
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Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs comes to the thin-walled upper chamber of the heart on the
left, the left atrium. The left atrium relaxes when it is collecting this blood. It then contracts, while
the next chamber, the left ventricle, expands, so that the blood is transferred to it. When the muscular
left ventricle contracts in its turn, the blood is pumped out to the body.

De-oxygenated blood comes from the body to the upper chamber on the right, the right
atrium, as it expands. As the right atrium contracts, the corresponding lower chamber, the right
ventricle, dilates. This transfers blood to the right ventricle, which in turn pumps it to the lungs for
oxygenation. During this process blood goes twice through the heart. That’s why it is known as
double circulation.

Double Circulation is necessary:

The separation of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood allows a 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 O2 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.

Flow chart

Pulmonary circulation

Systemic circulation

11. 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 Phloem tissue helps in the transport of soluble
water and minerals. products of photosynthesis.

Water is transported upwards from roots Food is transported in both upward and
to all other plant parts. – Unidirectional downward directions – Bidirectional.

Transport of materials in Xylem does not Transport of materials through Phloem requires
require energy (ATP). energy (ATP)
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12. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their
structure and functioning.
Alveoli Nephrons
Structure Structure
(i) Alveoli are tiny balloon-like structures (i) Nephrons are tubular structures present
present inside the lungs. inside the kidneys.

(ii) The walls of the alveoli are one cell thick

(ii) Nephrons are made of glomerulus,
and it contains an extensive network of blood
Bowman’s capsule, and a long renal tube.
capillaries.
Function Function

(i) The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes place (i) The blood enters the kidneys through the
between the blood of the capillaries that renal artery. The blood is entered here and the
surround the alveoli and the gases present in nitrogenous waste in the form of urine is
the alveoli. collected by collecting duct.

(ii) Alveoli are the site of gaseous exchange. (ii) Nephrons are the basic filtration unit.

13. Differentiate between Arteries, Veins and Capillaries.

Arteries Veins Capillaries
Take blood from the heart Take blood from arteries to
Take blood to the heart
Veins
Pressure rises than gradually
Blood flows under high Blood flows under low
falls as blood flows from
Pressure Pressure
arteries to veins
Thick muscular walls, small Thinner walls with large
The walls are one celled thick
Lumen Lumen
Valves are absent Valves are present to prevent
Valves are absent
backward flow of blood
Situated deeply within the Situated superficially in the Situated at the terminals of
Body Body arteries or veins

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