Life Processes Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from lecture notes on Life Processes, Nutrition, Respiration, Transportation and Excretion.

Nutrition

A process in which an organism obtain food and utilizes it

Respiration

The process of acquiring oxygen from outside into the body and using it for breaking down of glucose to release energy for cellular needs.

Transportation

The process of carrying food and oxygen from one place to another.

Excretion

The process of removing by-products from the body which are formed during energy generating reactions.

Diffusion

Process used by single celled organisms for gas exchange and waste removal.

Autotrophic Nutrition

Mode of nutrition in which organisms manufacture their own food.

Photosynthesis Autotrophs

Organisms which fulfill their carbon and energy requirements by photosynthesis using sunlight.

Chemosynthesis autotrophs

Organisms which utilize chemical energy to synthesize their own food.

Photosynthesis

Complex process by which green plants synthesize organic food from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.

Epidermis

Outermost layer of the leaf.

Upper epidermis

Transparent cells with no chloroplasts in the upper epidermis.

Cuticle

Waxy layer covering the upper epidermis to prevent excessive water loss.

Lower epidermis

Part of the lower epidermis that contains stomata for gaseous exchange.

Turgor pressure of guard cells

Regulates the opening and closing of stomatal pores based on water absorption and loss.

Heterotrophic Nutrition

Mode of nutrition where organisms cannot prepare their own food and obtain it from other organisms.

Holozoic Nutrition

Complex food molecules are taken in and broken down into simpler molecules.

Saprophytic Nutrition

Organisms feed on dead and decaying organic matter, breaking down complex material outside the body.

Parasitic Nutrition

Organisms live on or inside the body of another organism (host) to obtain nutrition without killing it.

Amoeba

Unicellular organism using pseudopodia for holozoic nutrition.

Ingestion

Process of taking food into the mouth.

Digestion

Process of breaking down food into small molecules.

Absorption

Process of soluble molecules being absorbed by cytoplasm.

Assimilation

Process of using absorbed food for energy and growth.

Egestion

Process of removing undigested food material.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that converts complex food into its simpler form.

Absorption

Process by which digested food passes from the alimentary canal into the blood.

Assimilation

Process of distribution of digested food products to various cells of the body for their utilization.

Egestion

Elimination of undigested food through the anus.

Peristaltic movement

Contraction and expansion of muscles of the oesophagus to push the food forward.

Emulsification

Process where fats broken down into smaller globules, increasing efficiency of the enzyme action.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

Energy currency of the cell.

Catabolic process

Process involving the breakdown of complex organic molecules into simpler substances with the release of energy.

Lenticles

Small pores in the stem of a woody plant for gaseous exchange.

Inspiration

Taking in oxygen.

Expiration

Giving out carbon dioxide.

Breathing or gaseous exchange

The phenomenon of taking in oxygen is termed as inspiration and of giving out carbon-di-oxide is termed as expiration.

Trachea

Windpipe.

Bronchi

Smaller tubes that trachea divides into.

Bronchioles

Smaller branches that bronchi are sub-divided into.

Alveoli

Balloon-like structures that increase the surface area for gaseous exchange in lungs.

Diaphragm

Movement in diaphragm helps in breathing.

Haemoglobin

Respiratory pigment found in red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Blood

Red colored fluid connective tissue circulating in our body.

Platelets

Circulating components that help in clotting of blood at the site of injury.

Heart

Pumping machine pushing out blood into blood vessels.

Atrium

Upper chambers of the heart separated by septum.

Ventricle

Lower chambers of the heart.

Anaemia

Condition caused by deficiency of haemoglobin.

Blood Pressure

The pressure at which blood is pumped around the body by the heart.

Lymph

Fluid in our body that transports to areas blood cannot reach.

Translocation

Transportation of soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Alveoli in lungs

Balloon like structure found within lungs where diffusion is employed in exchange of gases.

Nephrons in kidneys

Long and coiled tubule-like structure present in kidney where selective re-absorption of useful substances in capillaries.