Transportation

The body’s organs, tissues, and cells that assist in moving nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products throughout the body are together referred to as the transport system or circulatory system.

Transportation in Humans

These are the primary parts of this system:

Circulatory Fluids

• Blood: The fluid that travels through the blood vessels is blood, which is movable, red, and watery. Hemoglobin is a pigment that gives it its crimson red color. Blood is made up of 45% blood cells (RBC, WBC, and platelets) and 55% plasma. An average person typically carries 5.5 liters of blood.
• Lymph: Lymph is a colorless or pale yellow fluid that mimics blood but lacks platelets and red blood cells. Although the lymph’s composition can vary, it typically consists of 94% water and 6% dissolved materials such as proteins, salts, and a significant amount of white blood cells

Blood Vessels

All body components receive and deliver blood through hollow tubes known as blood arteries. The three primary types of blood vessels are as follows:

• Arteries: The major function of arteries is to transport blood away from the heart. With the exception of the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood, they typically transport oxygenated blood (blood with a greater oxygen saturation).
• Veins: These blood channels transport blood to the heart and are a little thinner than arteries. Except for the pulmonary veins, which carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart, they typically transmit deoxygenated blood (blood with low saturation oxygen). 

Also Read: Diagram of Blood Vessels

Heart

The main function of the heart, a muscular organ in our body, is to pump blood through blood veins throughout the body. It is the main pumping organ. There are four chambers in the human heart. Blood is pumped into each of the two ventricles by two higher chambers known as the atria or auricles. Ventricles are the names of the two lowest chambers. Blood that has lost oxygen is pumped from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery and then into the lungs.

The aorta receives oxygenated blood from the left ventricle and transports it throughout the body. A double membrane known as the pericardium covers the human heart. Three layers make up the heart wall: the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. Fine branching blood vessels called capillaries create a network of arteries and veins.

Transportation in Plants

Transportation in plants refers to the movement of water, nutrients, and other substances throughout the plant. The various processes involved are:

• Transpiration: Loss of water vapor from the aerial parts of the plant, primarily through small openings called stomata on leaves.
• Absorption: Uptake of water and minerals from the soil by the roots, facilitated by root hairs and root systems.
• Translocation: Movement of nutrients, hormones, and other substances through the plant’s vascular system (xylem and phloem).

Structures involved in the process are:

• Xylem: Conducts water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.
• Phloem: Transports sugars, amino acids, and other organic compounds produced in the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Mechanisms with helps in transportation are:

• Root Pressure: Pressure exerted by roots helps push water upwards in the xylem.
• Capillary Action: Water molecules move upwards in narrow tubes of the xylem due to cohesion and adhesion forces.
• Transpirational Pull: Loss of water through transpiration creates tension, pulling water upward from the roots to replace it.

Life Processes Class 10 Notes helps students in preparing the chapter in a better way. Life processes are essential activities required for an organism’s optimal well-being and proper functionality. An organism would not be able to exist without these vital life functions. The basic processes of life include organization, metabolism, response, motion, and reproduction. 

Life Processes Class 10 Notes NCERT describes in depth the various processes that both plants and animals go through. In this article, you will find the notes on class 10 chapter on Life Processes.