Nutrition Basics

Nutrition

Definition

• The process by which living organisms obtain and utilize nutrients for energy, growth, and maintenance.

Types of Nutrition

• Autotrophic Nutrition: Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
  • Examples: plants, algae, some bacteria
• Heterotrophic Nutrition: Organisms that cannot produce their own food and obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.
  • Examples: animals, fungi, some bacteria

Modes of Nutrition

• Holozoic Nutrition: Organisms that ingest and digest solid food particles.
  • Examples: animals, humans
• Saprotrophic Nutrition: Organisms that obtain nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter.
  • Examples: fungi, some bacteria
• Parasitic Nutrition: Organisms that obtain nutrients by feeding on another living organism.
  • Examples: tapeworms, fleas

Nutrient Uptake

• Ingestion: Taking in food particles through the mouth.
• Digestion: Breaking down food particles into smaller molecules.
• Absorption: Absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream.
• Assimilation: Converting absorbed nutrients into energy or organic compounds.

Importance of Nutrition

• Essential for growth, development, and maintenance of living organisms.
• Provides energy for various life processes.
• Supports the immune system and overall health.

Nutrition

Definition

• Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain and utilize nutrients for energy, growth, and maintenance.

Types of Nutrition

Autotrophic Nutrition

• Produces own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
• Examples: plants, algae, some bacteria.

Heterotrophic Nutrition

• Cannot produce own food and obtains nutrients by consuming other organisms.
• Examples: animals, fungi, some bacteria.

Modes of Nutrition

Holozoic Nutrition

• Ingests and digests solid food particles.
• Examples: animals, humans.

Saprotrophic Nutrition

• Obtains nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter.
• Examples: fungi, some bacteria.

Parasitic Nutrition

• Obtains nutrients by feeding on another living organism.
• Examples: tapeworms, fleas.

Nutrient Uptake

• Ingestion: takes in food particles through the mouth.
• Digestion: breaks down food particles into smaller molecules.
• Absorption: absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream.
• Assimilation: converts absorbed nutrients into energy or organic compounds.

Importance of Nutrition

• Essential for growth, development, and maintenance of living organisms.
• Provides energy for various life processes.
• Supports the immune system and overall health.

Learn about the process of nutrition, types of nutrition, and modes of nutrition in living organisms. Discover the differences between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition.