Life Processes | Class 7 Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Life Processes – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Life Processes from Class 7 Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Do all animals digest food the same way as humans do?
Digestion varies among animals depending on their diet and habitat. For instance, ruminants like cows have a specialized digestive system with multiple stomach chambers to digest tough plant material. They initially chew food partially, swallow it, and later regurgitate it to chew thoroughly, a process called rumination. Birds lack teeth but have a muscular chamber called the gizzard that grinds food, often aided by swallowed small stones (grit). These adaptations show that the structure and function of the alimentary canal differ to suit dietary needs. Despite differences, the fundamental process of breaking down food into simpler forms for absorption remains common. This diversity in digestion mechanisms reflects evolutionary adaptations to different ecological niches and food sources.
📊 Diagram: Figure 9.6 shows the digestive system of a ruminant with multiple stomach chambers. Figure 9.7 illustrates the bird's digestive system highlighting the gizzard.
🔗 Connection: This section transitions to the next major life process: respiration in animals, highlighting the importance of oxygen in energy production from digested food.
Frequently asked questions
1. Complete the journey of food through the alimentary canal by filling up the boxes with appropriate parts— Food → Mouth → → Stomach → → Anus
The complete journey of food through the alimentary canal is: Food → Mouth → Oesophagus → Stomach → Small Intestine → Large Intestine → Anus. Explanation: After food enters the mouth, it passes through the oesophagus to the stomach, then to the small intestine where most digestion and absorption occur, followed by the large intestine where water is absorbed, and finally the waste is expelled through the anus.
2. Sahil placed some pieces of chapati in test tube A. Neha placed chewed chapati in test tube B, and Santushti took boiled and mashed potato in test tube C. All of them added a few drops of iodine solution to their test tubes—A, B, and C, respectively. What would be their observations? Give reasons.
Observations:
- Test tube A (pieces of chapati): The iodine solution will turn blue-black indicating the presence of starch.
- Test tube B (chewed chapati): The iodine solution will not turn blue-black or will show a very faint color because chewing mixes saliva containing amylase which starts breaking down starch into sugar.
- Test tube C (boiled and mashed potato): The iodine solution will turn blue-black indicating the presence of starch.
Reason: Iodine solution reacts with starch to give a
3. What is the role of the diaphragm in breathing? (i) To filter the air (ii) To produce sound (iii) To help in inhalation and exhalation (iv) To absorb oxygen
Correct option: (iii) To help in inhalation and exhalation.
Explanation: The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle below the lungs that contracts and flattens during inhalation, increasing the chest cavity volume and allowing air to enter the lungs. During exhalation, it relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out. It does not filter air, produce sound, or absorb oxygen.
4. Match the following | Name of the part | Functions | | --- | --- | | (i) Nostrils | (a) fresh air from outside enters | | (ii) Nasal passages | (b) exchange of gases occurs | | (iii) Windpipe | (c) protects lungs | | (iv) Alveoli | (d) tiny hair and mucus help to trap dust and dirt from the air we breathe | | (v) Ribcage | (e) air reaches our lungs through this part |
Correct matching: (i) Nostrils — (d) tiny hair and mucus help to trap dust and dirt from the air we breathe (ii) Nasal passages — (a) fresh air from outside enters (iii) Windpipe — (e) air reaches our lungs through this part (iv) Alveoli — (b) exchange of gases occurs (v) Ribcage — (c) protects lungs
Explanation:
- Nostrils have tiny hairs and mucus to filter dust.
- Nasal passages allow fresh air to enter.
- Windpipe (trachea) carries air to lungs.
- Alveoli are sites of gas exchange.
- Ribcag
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