CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Humans require vital life processes such as respiration, blood circulation, reproduction etc for
survival. Explore important life processes to sustain life by referring to Class 10 notes provided
right here at BYJU'S. Notes provided are complete and concise for students to refer to for
examinations.

Topics Covered in Chapter 6 Life Processes:

What are Life Processes?

Nutrition

Autotrophic Nutrition

Heterotrophic Nutrition

How do Organisms obtain their Nutrition?

Nutrition in Human Beings

Respiration

Transportation

Transportation in Human Beings

Transportation in Plants

Excretion

Excretion in Human Beings

Excretion in Plants

Introduction to Chapter:

 All living things perform certain life processes such as growth, excretion, circulation,
respiration etc
 All the processes like respiration, digestion which together keep the living entities alive
and performing the tasks of maintaining the body are called life processes

What Is Life Process?

The basic essential activities performed by an organism to sustain life on earth is called as Life
Process. There are seven important life processes which are common to all plants, birds, and
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

animals, which includes: Growth, Movement, Respiration, Transportation, Excretion,

Reproduction, and Nutrition.

Criteria For Life process

Growth– It is generally defined as an increase in the size, the number of cells, tissues and the
whole organism. Growth is mainly classified into Primary and Secondary growth
Movement– All living organisms including animals and plants have the ability to move. Usually,
animals move in search of food, shelter and to protect themselves from danger. Plants cannot
move like animals, but they show some movements response to an environmental stimulus.
Respiration– All living organisms including animals and plants respire as they need energy to
grow, move and repair the cells. Aerobic and Anaerobic are two types of respiration.
Excretion– It is the process of removing or eliminating metabolic waste from a body. Like animals
and humans, plant do excretes during photosynthesis and transpiration process.
Reproduction- It is the biological process of giving birth to their young ones. There are two types
of reproduction- Sexual and asexual reproduction. Every living organism in this planet earth
reproduces for the continuity of the generations.
Nutrition– It is the process of taking in food and converting it into energy, which is used for growth
and development. There are two types of nutrition – Autotrophic and Heterotrophic mode of
nutrition.

Modes Of Nutrition
 Nutrition In Plants
 Plants are autotrophs
 They prepare their own food

 Nutrition In Animals
 Animals are heterotrophs
 They depend on plants or others

Autotrophic Nutrition
 It is a kind of nutrition in which inorganic materials like CO2, water etc are utilized to
prepare organic food by the process of photosynthesis. Example - Green plants
 The organisms which carry out autotrophic nutrition are called autotrophs (green plants)
 Autotrophs use simple inorganic material and convert it into complex high energy
molecules(carbohydrates)
 Autotrophic nutrition is fulfilled by the process by which autotrophs take in CO2 and H2O
and convert these into carbohydrates in the presence of chlorophyll, sunlight is called
Photosynthesis.

Equation for photosynthesis:

6CO + 12H O ➡C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O

2 2 (In the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll)
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Raw materials for Photosynthesis

 Sunlight: It is an inorganic material
 Chlorophyll: Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll
 CO2: Enters through stomata and oxygen is released as a by-product through stomata
on leaf
 Water: water + dissolved minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus etc are taken up the roots
of the soil

Site Of Photosynthesis
Some cells contain green pigments which are cell organelles called chloroplasts which contain
chlorophyll.

Main Events Of Photosynthesis

 Absorption of light energy by photosynthesis

 Conversion of light energy into chemical energy + splitting (breaking) of water into
hydrogen and oxygen
 Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates

Stomata

Stomata are the tiny pores present on the surface of the leaves
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Functions of Stomata
 Exchange of gases O2/CO2
 Loses a large amount of water (water vapour) during transpiration

Heterotrophic Nutrition
 Kind of nutrition in which organisms do not possess the ability to synthesize their own
food. They depend on autotrophs for their food supply directly or indirectly. Example -
Animals, Fungi

Different modes under this category are as follows:

 Holozoic Nutrition: Animals take in solid food and breakdown inside the body. Example -
Amoeba, animals
 Saprophytic Nutrition: Organisms feed on dead, decaying matter. Example - Fungi
 Parasitic Nutrition: Parasites live inside or outside other organisms (host) and derive
nutrition from it. Example - Cuscuta (plant parasites), Ticks etc

How do Organisms obtain their food?

 Unicellular/Single-celled organisms - Food is taken up through the entire surface.

Example - Amoeba, Paramecium
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Process of intake of food by Ameoba:

 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Nutrition
Different organisms utilize different nutritional processes as it depends upon the source of
carbon from where the food is taken.

Nutrition In Human Beings

The alimentary canal is basically a long tube extending from the mouth to the anus. Various
regions are specialized to perform different functions

Human Digestive System

 Mouth - intake of whole food

 Teeth - Chewing/grinding of food
 Tongue - Rolling of food + tasting of food + swallowing/pushing down the food
 Salivary glands - secrete saliva + mucus (it is a sticky, gelatinous material that lines
your lungs, throat, mouth, nose and sinuses) + starch is converted into glucose by
saliva (Salivary amylase)
 Oesophagus - Taking food from mouth to stomach by peristaltic movements
(contraction and expansion of muscles of the oesophagus)
 Stomach - Gastric glands present in the stomach secrete gastric juice
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

 Small intestine - it is the site of the complete digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and
fats
 Walls of small intestine secrete intestinal enzyme which converts carbohydrates
into glucose, fats in fatty acid + glycerol and proteins into amino acids
 It has villi (finger projection) which help in the absorption of food into blood
 It receives the secretions of the liver and pancreas
 The food is acidic which is made alkaline for the pancreatic enzymes to act. The
pancreas secretes pancreatic juice which contains enzymes like trypsin for digesting
proteins and lipase for breaking down emulsified fats
 Fats are present in the intestine in the form of large globules which makes it difficult for
enzymes to act on them. Bile salts break them down into smaller globules which
increases the efficiency of enzyme action
 Large intestine - it absorbs excess water and the rest of the material is eliminated from
the body via the anus

Respiration In Human beings

Respiration involves:
 Gaseous exchange (Breathing) - Intake of oxygen from the atmosphere and release of
carbon dioxide
 Cellular respiration - the breakdown of simple food in order to release energy inside the
cell

Breakdown of Glucose by various Pathways:

 The first step is the breakdown of glucose (a six-carbon molecule) into a three-carbon
molecule called pyruvate which takes place in the cytoplasm
 The pyruvate can be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide which takes place in
yeast during fermentation. Since the process occurs in the absence of air (oxygen), it is
called anaerobic respiration
 The pyruvate is broken down into a three-carbon pyruvate molecule in the presence of
oxygen to give three molecules of carbon dioxide and water. This process takes place in
mitochondria. Since this process takes place in the presence of oxygen, it is known as
aerobic respiration
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

 The pyruvate is converted into lactic acid when there is a lack of oxygen in our muscle
cells, which is also a three-carbon molecule. This build-up of lactic acid in our muscles
during sudden activity causes cramps.

The whole process of breakdown of glucose is shown below:

The energy released during cellular respiration is immediately used to synthesize a molecule
called ATP which is used to fuel all other activities in the cell. In these processes, ATP is
broken down giving rise to a fixed amount of energy which can derive the endothermic
reactions taking place in the cell
The rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial
organisms because the amount of dissolved oxygen is fairly low compared to the amount of
oxygen in the air.

Types of Respiration

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

Occurs in the presence of oxygen Occurs in the absence of oxygen

Occurs in Mitochondria Occurs in Cytoplasm

End products and water and carbon dioxide End products and lactic acid and alcohol

More amount of energy is released Less amount of energy is released

 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Human Respiratory System

Passage of air through the respiratory system:

 Nostril - air is taken into the body

 Nasal passage - it is a channel for airflow through the nose
 Nasal cavity - it is lined with hair and mucous membrane. It warms, moisturizes and
filters air before it reaches the lungs
 Pharynx - it contains rings of cartilage which ensure that the air -passage does not
collapse
 Larynx - it houses the vocal cords and manipulates pitch and volume, which is essential
for phonation. It is also known as the voice box
 Trachea - Pharynx splits into the trachea and oesophagus. It connects the larynx (or
voice box) to the bronchi of the lungs. It provides airflow to and from the lungs for
respiration
 Bronchi - They are the main passageway into the lungs. They are the extension of the
windpipe that shuttles air to and from the lungs. The oxygen goes to the lungs and
carbon dioxide leaves the lungs through them
 Bronchioles - Bronchi get smaller when they reach closer to the lungs tissues and are
called Bronchioles. They are the passageways by which air passes through the nose or
mouth to the alveoli of the lungs
 Alveoli - they are smaller tubes which finally terminate in balloon-like structures which
are called alveoli. They allow carbon dioxide and oxygen to move between the lungs
and the bloodstream
 Blood capillaries - They are the sites of transfer of oxygen and other nutrients from the
blood stream to other tissues in the body. They also collect carbon dioxide and waste
materials and return them to the veins.
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Mechanism of Breathing

Inhalation Exhalation

During inhalation, the thoracic cavity Thoracic cavity contracts

expands

Ribs lift up Ribs move downwards

Diaphragm become flat in shape The diaphragm becomes dome shaped

Volume of lungs increases and air Volume of lungs decreases and air exits
enters the lungs from the lungs

Exchange of gases between alveoli, blood and tissues

 Oxygen-rich air reaches blood which combines with haemoglobin in RBC and oxygen is
released in alveoli tissues (through blood vessels)
 Carbon dioxide is released in the blood and dissolves into it and carried by blood
vessels. The carbon dioxide is released in alveolar sacs which is sent out through
nostrils
 Terrestrial organisms - use atmospheric oxygen for respiration
 Aquatic organisms - use dissolved oxygen for respiration

Respiration In Plants

Respiration in Plants is simpler than respiration in animals. Gaseous exchange occurs through:
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

 Stomata in leaves
 Lenticels in stem
 General surface of the root

Transportation in Human beings

Human beings like other multicellular organisms need regular supply of food, oxygen etc. This
function is performed by circulatory system.
The circulatory system is human beings consists of:
 Heart (pumping organ)
 Arteries and veins (blood vessels)
 Blood and lymph (circulatory medium)

Circulatory system in Human Beings

 The lungs supply oxygen-rich blood to the left atrium of the heart
 The left atrium relaxes when it is collecting the blood and contracts when blood is
transferred to the left ventricle. The left ventricle expands when it receives blood
 The blood is pumped out of the body when the muscles of the left ventricle contracts
 Deoxygenated blood comes from the body to the upper chamber on the right i.e., the
right atrium when it expands
 The corresponding lower chamber i.e., the right ventricle expands when right atrium
contracts. It transfers the blood to the right ventricle which in turn pumps it to the lungs
for oxygenation
 Right ventricles have thicker muscular walls so that they pump blood into various
organs
 Valves ensure that blood does not flow backwards when the atria or ventricles contract

Blood circulation in the Human Body

Double Circulation: Blood travels twice through the heart in one complete cycle of the body
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Direction of blood flow through Human Heart

 Pulmonary Circulation - Blood moves from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
 Systemic Circulation - Blood moves from the heart to the rest of the body and back to
the heart

Blood

Blood is a connective tissue which is fluid in nature. The solid components of Blood(Blood
corpuscles) are:
 RBC(Red Blood Cells) - It carries oxygen and carbon dioxide and also contains
Haemoglobin which imparts red colour to the blood
 WBC(White Blood Cells) - It provides body defence by engulfing the germs and
produces antibodies
 Blood Platelets - During any injury, it helps in blood clotting

Liquid components (Plasma) - It is a yellow coloured fluid which is 90% water and 10% organic
substances

Lymph

 It is a yellowish fluid which escapes from the blood capillaries into the intercellular
spaces
 It contains less proteins than blood
 It flows from tissues to the heart which helps in transportation and destroying germs
 It carries digested and absorbed fat from intestine and drains excess fluid from extra
cellular space back into the blood

Types of Blood vessels

There are two types of blood vessels

 Arteries
 Veins

Arteries Veins

Carry oxygenated blood from heart to the Carry deoxygenated blood from body
body parts except pulmonary artery parts to heart except pulmonary vein

Also called distributing vessel Also called collecting vessel

Thick and elastic Thin and less elastic

Deepseated (far from the skin) Superficial (near to the skin) as compared
to arteries
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Transportation in Plants

 Plants take in carbon dioxide and photosynthesize energy stored in their chlorophyll-
containing structures, the leaves
 For plants, soil is the is richest and the nearest source of raw material such as nitrogen,
phosphorous and other minerals, the absorption of which occurs through roots
 The plant transport systems move energy stores from leaves and raw materials from
roots. Both of these pathways are constructed independently through different
conducting tubes
 Xylem moves water and minerals obtained from soil whereas phloem transports
products of photosynthesis from leaves to other plant parts

Transport of water

 Vessels, tracheids of roots, stems and leaves of the xylem tissue are interconnected
forming a continuous system of water-conducting channels reaching all plant parts
 Water moves into the root from the soil as a result of a difference created in the
concentration of ions between the soil and the root. Thereby a steady movement of
water is created into the root xylem, pushed upwards steadily
 When there is an adequate amount of water supply, water lost through stomata is
replaced by water from the xylem vessels in the leaf
 Evaporation of water molecules from leaf cells creates a suction, pulling water from
xylem cells of the roots. Transpiration is the process wherein water is lost in the form of
vapour from the aerial parts of the plant

Advantages of Transpiration:

 Helps in the absorption and the upward movement of water and minerals dissolved in it
from roots to leaves
 Helps in temperature regulation
 Acts as a major driving force during the daytime, as transpirational pull helps in the
movement of water in the xylem

Transport of food and other substances

 Translocation occurs in the vascular tissue, phloem where apart from the transport of
products of photosynthesis, it also transports amino acids and other substances which
are specially delivered to the storage organs of fruits, roots and seeds and even to the
growing organs
 Translocation of food and other substances occurs in the sieve tubes with the aid of
adjacent companion cells in both the directions
 Translocation in phloem can be achieved by utilizing energy, derived from ATP, for
instance, transfer of sucrose into phloem tissue
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Excretion System in Human Beings

Excretory/urinary system consists of:

 The Kidneys - The excretory organ
 The ureters - The ducts which drain out urine from the kidneys
 The urinary bladder - The urinary reservoir
 The urethra - The channel to the exterior

Excretion

The metabolic activities in the body generates many kinds of wastes including nitrogenous
wastes which are harmful for the body and hence needed to be removed. Excretion is a
process by which these wastes are moved from our body. The unicellular entities remove
these wastes by simple diffusion

Excretory wastes
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Formation of Urine in Human Beings

Each kidney contains many filtration units called as nephrons.

 Nephrons are made up of a cluster of thin walled capillaries called glomerulus which is
associated with a cup like structure called as Bowman's capsule and the long tube
which terminated through this capsule
 The renal artery brings oxygenated blood to the kidneys along with the nitrogenous
wastes like urea and uric acid and many other substances
 The blood gets filtered through the glomerulus and this filtrate enters the tubular part of
nephron
 As this filtrate moves down the tubular part, glucose, amino acids, salts and excess of
water gets selectively reabsorbed by the blood vessels surrounding these tubules
 The amount of water reabsorbed depends upon
 How much excess of water is there in the body and
 How much nitrogenous wastes need to be excreted out
 So the fluid now flowing in the tubular part is urine which gets collected in collecting
ducts of nephrons
 These collecting ducts together leave the kidney at a common point by forming the
ureter
 Each ureter drains the urine in the urinary bladder where it is stored until the pressure of
the expanded bladder leads to an urge to pass it out through urethra
 This bladder is a muscular structure which is under nervous control
 180 litres of filtrate is formed daily but only 2 litres is excreted out as urine so the rest is
reabsorbed in the body

Structure of Nephron
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

Functions of Nephron

 Excretion of nitrogenous wastes

 To maintain the water and ionic balance(osmic regulation)

Artificial Kidney

Haemodialysis - The process of purifying blood by an artificial kidney. It is meant for kidney
failure patients.

Excretion in Plants

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 also lose some of their old parts like old leaves and bark of trees
 Other waste products like raisins and gums especially in old xylem cells which can also
be lost by plants
 Plants also secrete some waste substances into the soil around them

Few Important Questions

 What is locomotion?
 Describe the process of Excretion in humans.
 CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Life Processes Notes

 Explain in detail how plants prepare their food?

 Give examples for Heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
 Write the differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic respiration.