NCERT Class 7 Science Curiosity: Chapter 9 — Life Processes in Animals
This chapter, 'Life Processes in Animals', from NCERT's Class 7 Science Curiosity textbook, delves into essential biological functions for survival. Building upon Grade 6 knowledge, it focuses on nutrition and respiration in detail. The text explains that animals obtain energy from food, which contains complex components like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These must be broken down into simpler forms for the body to utilize. The chapter introduces the alimentary canal, a long tube where this breakdown occurs, starting from the mouth and ending at the anus. Digestive juices secreted at various points aid in simplifying the food, which is then absorbed and transported throughout the body. The initial mechanical digestion in humans, involving crushing and chewing by teeth, is also highlighted. This chapter helps students understand the fundamental processes that sustain animal life and the variations in these processes across different species.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 7 |
| Subject | Science |
| Book | Curiosity |
| Chapter | Chapter 9 — Life Processes in Animals |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 252 |
Learning outcomes
- Define life processes and identify key processes like nutrition and respiration.
- Explain the role of the alimentary canal in digestion.
- Describe the initial stages of digestion in humans, including mechanical digestion.
- Recognize that animals consume complex food components that need to be simplified.
- Understand that different animals have varied methods of obtaining food.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Life processes | Processes essential for the survival of living beings, such as nutrition, respiration, excretion, and reproduction. |
| Nutrition | The process by which organisms obtain and utilize food. |
| Respiration | The process of obtaining energy from food. |
| Excretion | The process of eliminating waste products from the body. |
| Reproduction | The process by which organisms produce offspring. |
| Alimentary canal | A long tube through which food passes in the body, starting from the mouth and ending at the anus. |
| Digestive juices | Substances secreted at different parts of the alimentary canal that help break down food. |
| Mechanical digestion | The initial breakdown of food into fine pieces by processes like crushing and chewing. |
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Practice questions
- What are life processes? Answer: Life processes are processes essential for the survival of living beings, including nutrition, respiration, excretion, and reproduction.
- Why do animals need to break down complex food components? Answer: Animals need to break down complex food components into simpler forms so that the body can absorb and use them to obtain energy and carry out life processes.
- What is the alimentary canal? Answer: The alimentary canal is a long tube in the body where the breakdown of complex food components into simpler forms occurs, starting from the mouth and ending at the anus.
- What is mechanical digestion? Answer: Mechanical digestion is the initial breakdown of food into smaller pieces by physical means like crushing and chewing, which begins in the mouth.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main life processes mentioned in the chapter?
The chapter mentions nutrition, respiration, excretion, and reproduction as essential life processes.
What is the function of the alimentary canal?
The alimentary canal is responsible for breaking down complex food components into simpler forms and absorbing them for the body's use.
Where does digestion begin in humans?
Digestion begins in the mouth with mechanical digestion through crushing and chewing by teeth.
What types of food components do animals consume?
Animals consume complex food components such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
How is food broken down in the alimentary canal?
Digestive juices secreted at different parts of the alimentary canal break down the food into simpler forms.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 7 Science — Curiosity — Chapter 9 — Life Processes in Animals. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.