Discover the essential processes every living thing needs to survive: nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion.
Nutrition is how organisms obtain and use food. Plants make their own food (autotrophic nutrition); animals consume other organisms (heterotrophic nutrition).
Organism makes its own food, e.g. plants via photosynthesis
Organism consumes other organisms for food, e.g. animals, fungi
Write the overall word equation for photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide + Water → (sunlight, chlorophyll) → Glucose + Oxygen
Respiration is how cells release energy from food. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and releases much more energy than anaerobic respiration, which doesn't need oxygen.
Write the word equation for aerobic respiration.
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
During vigorous exercise, muscle cells sometimes don't get enough oxygen. What type of respiration happens then, and what builds up in the muscles?
Anaerobic respiration, producing lactic acid — this build-up is part of what causes muscle fatigue
Transportation moves substances (like oxygen, nutrients, and waste) around the body. Excretion removes the waste products of metabolism.
Which organ in the human body is the main site of excretion, filtering waste from the blood?
The kidneys
What is the main function of red blood cells in transportation?
Carrying oxygen from the lungs to all body cells
1. Is photosynthesis an example of autotrophic or heterotrophic nutrition?
2. Name the two main products of aerobic respiration (besides energy).
3. Which gas is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis?
4. What waste product builds up in muscles during anaerobic respiration?
5. Name the organ system responsible for excretion in humans.