Flash Cards: Life Processes

Life processes are the essential functions that living organisms perform to maintain their life, including nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, and reproduction.

Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain food to provide energy and raw materials for growth and maintenance.

Respiration is the biochemical process in which cells break down glucose and oxygen to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water as by-products.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Transportation is crucial for moving nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout the body, ensuring all cells receive what they need to function.

In humans, the circulatory system transports blood, nutrients, and gases, while the lymphatic system transports lymph and immune cells.

Excretion is the process of removing waste products from the body to maintain internal balance and prevent toxicity.

Phloem is the vascular tissue responsible for transporting sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

Xylem is the vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Many believe respiration only refers to breathing, but it actually includes cellular processes that generate energy.

Oxygen is crucial for aerobic respiration, as it helps in the breakdown of glucose to release energy efficiently.

Proper nutrition provides the necessary materials and energy for growth and development in organisms.

Unicellular organisms perform all life processes within a single cell, while multicellular organisms have specialized cells and systems for different functions.

Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Chemical reactions are essential for generating energy, synthesizing molecules, and maintaining cellular functions.

Organisms remove waste through excretion, involving organs specialized for this function, such as kidneys in humans.

The overall equation for cellular respiration is: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.

Symptoms may include swelling, fatigue, confusion, and buildup of toxins in the body.