Biology Notes

Chapter 4: Maintaining Life

Keywords:

 Root Hair
 Xylem vessels
 Transpiration
 Urea
 Excretion
 Osmosis
 Semi-permeable Membrane
 Kidneys
 Excretory system
 Renal
 Renal system
 Urine
 Ureter
 Bladder
 Urethra

Definitions:

 Root Hair - Root hairs are tiny hairs on plant roots. Their job is to absorb water and nutrients
from the soil, acting like sponges. Even though they're really small, there are many of them,
that help the plant get water from the soil.
 Xylem vessels - The xylem is the vascular tissue responsible for the upward conduction of
water and nutrients from the roots. The xylem tissue moves water and nutrients to various
parts of the plant such as shoots and leaves.
 Transpiration - Transpiration is a natural process in plants where water is taken up by the
roots from the soil and then released into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor
through small openings on the surface of leaves and stems.
 Urea - Urea is a waste product formed in the liver when proteins are metabolized, and it is
excreted by the kidneys in urine. When we eat food that is rich in protein, the protein is
broken down and then converted into urea.
 Excretion – Removal of waste material from the body.
 Osmosis – The movement of water from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.
 Semi-permeable Membrane – It acts as a barrier that only small cells can enter. The cells that
are bigger in size cannot pass through.
 Kidneys – Organs that filter blood from urea and other waste substances. Kidneys are
important for the purification of blood.
  Excretory system - The excretory system is the body's way of getting rid of waste and extra
substances it doesn't need. Essentially, the excretory system helps maintain a balance in the
body by getting rid of things that could be harmful if they build up.
 Renal - relating to the kidneys.
 Renal System – Another word for Excretory system
 Urine – After the kidney purifies the blood and separates the urea, it also separates excess
water from the blood. The urea dissolves in the extra water. The solution that is made of
urea and water is called Urine.
 Ureter – The tube that the urine made by the kidneys flows through is called the ureter.
 Bladder – The ureter carries the urine to the bladder and that is where it is stored for a
while.
 Urethra – In frequent intervals the urine passes through the Urethra and of the body.

Transpiration

Why is Transpiration important?

 Its pulling action helps in the absorption and transportation of water in the plant.

 It supplies water for photosynthesis.

 Transpiration cools the leaf surface.

Transpiration is the process in which plants release the water inside them in the form of moisture or
water vapor. Roots consume some amount of water from the soil and the rest evaporates in the
atmosphere. Parts of plants such as stems, small pores on leaves, and flowers evaporate the water into
the atmosphere. In other words, it is the process in which water evaporates in the atmosphere from plant
leaves and other parts.

Like all other life processes (eating, digestion, growth, etc.) excretion is also an important life
process. Plants are no different, they also have to get rid of the excess water from their body. Roots
in plants absorb water from the ground which is transported to all the plant parts for various
activities like preparing food, growth, and metabolism. But all the water that roots absorb is not
used up by the plants. The excess water absorbed by the roots is eliminated from the plant body by
the process of transpiration.
Thus, transpiration can be defined as the process by which the plant body releases water in the form
of vapors through its aerial parts. Transpiration also refers to the evaporation of water from the
plant part. It is an important process in plants that facilitates other processes and keeps a balance of
water and nutrients.

Xylem Vessels

 Vascular plants have Xylem, a tissue that carries water and minerals from the soil to the
leaves and stems. In 1858, Carl Nägeli invented the term “xylem”.
  Xylem offers a vital “supporting” role by giving tissues and organs strength, preserving the
structure of the plant, and resistance to deformation.

The xylem is a type of tissue that transports water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. The
Xylem is a transport tissue found in vascular plants along with the Phloem. The important function of
the xylem is to transport nutrients and water to leaves and stems from roots and also to provide
support. The Xylem word was introduced by Carl Nageli in 1858.

Root Hair

Root hairs

1. Root hairs are the hair-like tubular extensions of a plant root that increase the surface area
of the root.
2. The function of the root hairs is to absorb water and minerals and transport it through the
plant.
3. The most absorption of water in roots occurs through root hairs.