“Discover the essential systems of transportation in animals and plants with our detailed Class 7 Science notes on ‘Transportation in Animals and Plants’!

Chapter 7: Transportation in Animals and Plants

Overview of the Chapter

Understanding the Chapter

This chapter explains how substances are transported in animals and plants. It covers the circulatory system in animals, including humans, and the vascular system in plants, detailing the functions of different components involved in transportation.

Transportation in Animals

Circulatory System

Definition: The circulatory system is responsible for transporting substances like oxygen, nutrients, and waste products throughout the body.
Components:
Heart: A muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body.
Blood: A fluid that carries oxygen, nutrients, and waste products.
Blood Vessels: Tubes through which blood flows, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.

The Human Heart

Structure: The heart has four chambers – two atria and two ventricles.
Function: The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
Heartbeat: The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle.

Sections of the Human Heart

Left Atrium Right Atrium Left Ventricle Right Ventricle Pulmonary Veins Superior Vena Cava Aorta Pulmonary Artery Inferior Vena Cava Mitral Valve

Blood Vessels

Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart.
Capillaries: Tiny blood vessels where the exchange of substances occurs between blood and tissues.

Blood Composition

Plasma: The liquid component of blood that carries nutrients, hormones, and waste products.
Red Blood Cells: Carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
White Blood Cells: Fight infection and protect the body against diseases.
Platelets: Help in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.

Circulatory System in Other Animals

Open Circulatory System: Found in insects, where blood flows freely within body cavities.
Closed Circulatory System: Found in vertebrates, where blood flows within vessels.

Transportation in Plants

Vascular System

Xylem: Transports water and minerals from roots to other parts of the plant.
Phloem: Transports food (sugars) made in the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Water and Mineral Transport

Root Absorption: Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil.
Transpiration: The process of water evaporation from the leaves, creating a pull that draws water upward through the plant.
Capillary Action: Helps in the upward movement of water in the xylem vessels.

Transport of Food

Photosynthesis: The process by which leaves produce food (glucose) using sunlight.
Translocation: The movement of food from leaves to other parts of the plant through the phloem.

The Excretory System in Animals

Human Excretory System

Kidneys: Filter blood to remove waste products and excess water, forming urine.
Ureters: Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Bladder: Stores urine until it is excreted.
Urethra: The tube through which urine is expelled from the body.

Dialysis

Definition: Dialysis is a medical process used to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly.
Types:
Hemodialysis: Blood is filtered using a dialysis machine.
Peritoneal Dialysis: The lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) is used to filter blood inside the body.
Importance: Dialysis helps maintain the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body and removes toxins.

Excretory System in Other Animals

Insects: Use Malpighian tubules to excrete waste.
Aquatic Animals: Excrete waste through gills and other specialized structures.

Conclusion

Summary of the Chapter

The circulatory system in animals, including humans, transports essential substances like oxygen and nutrients and removes waste products.

The vascular system in plants, consisting of xylem and phloem, transports water, minerals, and food.

The excretory system removes waste products from the body, maintaining internal balance.

Dialysis is a critical process for patients with kidney failure, ensuring waste products are removed from the blood.

Additional Information

Key Terms and Concepts

Circulatory System: The system responsible for transporting substances throughout the body.
Heart: The organ that pumps blood.
Xylem: Vascular tissue in plants that transports water and minerals.
Phloem: Vascular tissue in plants that transports food.
Transpiration: The process of water evaporation from plant leaves.
Dialysis: The medical process of filtering blood when kidneys are not functioning properly.

Important Examples and Cases

Human Heart: The structure and function of the human heart in pumping blood.
Xylem and Phloem: The roles of xylem and phloem in plant transportation.
Dialysis Treatment: An example of how dialysis helps patients with kidney failure.

Notable Observations

Role of Capillaries: Capillaries facilitate the exchange of substances between blood and tissues.
Transpiration Pull: The mechanism by which water is drawn upward through the plant.
Dialysis in Medicine: Dialysis is a lifesaving procedure for individuals with non-functioning kidneys.
1.  What is the circulatory system?

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting substances like oxygen, nutrients, and waste products throughout the body.

2.  What are the main components of the circulatory system?

The main components of the circulatory system are the heart, blood, and blood vessels.

3.  What is the function of the heart?

The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.

4.  What are arteries?

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

5.  What are veins?

Veins are blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart.

6.  What are capillaries?

Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where the exchange of substances occurs between blood and tissues.

7.  What is the composition of blood?

Blood is composed of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

8.  What is the role of red blood cells?

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

9.  What is the role of white blood cells?

White blood cells fight infection and protect the body against diseases.

10.  What is the role of platelets?

Platelets help in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.

11.  What is an open circulatory system?

A closed circulatory system is found in vertebrates, where blood flows within vessels.

12.  What is a closed circulatory system?

A closed circulatory system is found in vertebrates, where blood flows within vessels.

13.  What is the vascular system in plants?

The vascular system in plants consists of xylem and phloem that transport water, minerals, and food.

14.  What is the function of xylem in plants?

Xylem transports water and minerals from roots to other parts of the plant.

15.  What is the function of phloem in plants?

Phloem transports food (sugars) made in the leaves to other parts of the plant.

16.  How do roots absorb water and minerals?

Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil.

17.  What is transpiration?

Transpiration is the process of water evaporation from the leaves, creating a pull that draws water upward through the plant.

18.  What is translocation in plants?

Translocation is the movement of food from leaves to other parts of the plant through the phloem.

19.  What is the human excretory system?

The human excretory system consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, which remove waste products from the body.

20.  What is the function of kidneys?

Kidneys filter blood to remove waste products and excess water, forming urine.

21.  What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a medical process used to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

22.  What are the types of dialysis?

The two main types of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

23.  How do insects excrete waste?

Insects use Malpighian tubules to excrete waste.

24.  How do aquatic animals excrete waste?

Aquatic animals excrete waste through gills and other specialized structures.

25.  What is the importance of the excretory system?

The excretory system removes waste products from the body, maintaining internal balance.

MCQs

Chapter 7: Transportation in Animals and Plants MCQs

1. What is the function of the circulatory system in animals?

2. What do veins do in the human body?

3. What are capillaries?

4. What is the role of white blood cells?

5. What does the xylem transport in plants?

MCQs

6. How do roots absorb water and minerals from the soil?

7. What is transpiration in plants?

8. What is the function of the kidneys in the human body?

9. What is dialysis?

10. How do insects excrete waste?

MCQs

11. What is the main product of the phloem’s transportation function in plants?

12. What are platelets responsible for in the blood?

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