Class 7 Science Chapter 9, Life Processes in Animals, explores the two core life processes that fuel animal survival—nutrition (how food is taken in, digested, absorbed and assimilated) and respiration (how breathing and cellular respiration release energy from food).
What Class 7 Science Chapter 9 Covers
9.1 Nutrition in Animals traces human digestion through the alimentary canal—mouth (saliva breaking down starch), oesophagus (peristalsis), stomach (acid, mucus and digestive juices), small intestine (liver bile, pancreatic juice and absorption via villi) and large intestine (9.1.1)—and compares cud-chewing ruminants (rumen) and gizzard digestion in birds (9.1.2).
9.2 Respiration in Animals explains inhalation and exhalation in humans using a rib-cage and diaphragm lung model, tests exhaled air for carbon dioxide with lime water, contrasts aerobic and anaerobic respiration (9.2.1), and explores how fish (gills), earthworms (moist skin), insects (spiracles/tracheae) and frogs breathe (9.2.2).
Exercises in Chapter 9
- In a Nutshell key points summary and Let Us Enhance Our Learning chapter exercises.
- Exploratory Projects and Dive Deeper hands-on science activities.
Read Class 7 Science Chapter 9 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 8: Measurement of Time and Motion
- Next: Chapter 10: Life Processes in Plants
- Hindi medium: Class 7 Science Chapter 9 PDF in Hindi (Jigyasa)
- All Science chapters and the other Class 7 books: Class 7 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
FAQ
What is the difference between breathing and respiration?
Breathing is the physical process of inhaling oxygen-rich air and exhaling carbon dioxide-rich air, whereas respiration is the chemical breakdown of glucose inside cells to release energy.
Why are cows and buffaloes called ruminants?
They quickly swallow grass and store it in a chamber of the stomach called the rumen, where it is partially digested into ‘cud’ that returns to the mouth to be chewed thoroughly (rumination).