Maharashtra SSC Physiology, Hygiene and Home Science (MSBSHSE) cheat sheet

Cell organelles: nucleus controls activity and carries chromosomes; mitochondria release energy by aerobic respiration; ribosomes build proteins; lysosomes digest worn-out material.

Plant cell vs animal cell: plant cells have a cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts and a large permanent vacuole; animal cells lack these but have centrioles.

Four basic tissues: epithelial (covering and lining), connective (binds/supports - bone, cartilage, blood), muscular (contractile - striated, smooth, cardiac), nervous (conducts impulses).

Eleven body systems in the SSC syllabus: skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, integumentary and lymphatic/immune.

Osmosis moves water across a semi-permeable membrane from low to high solute concentration; diffusion moves any solute from high to low concentration without energy.

Mitosis produces two identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair; meiosis produces four haploid gametes with half the chromosome number.

Blood is a connective tissue: plasma plus red cells (haemoglobin, oxygen transport), white cells (defence) and platelets (clotting).

Homeostasis keeps internal temperature near 37 °C, blood pH near 7.4 and blood glucose regulated mainly by insulin and glucagon.

Energy values: carbohydrate 4 kcal/g, protein 4 kcal/g, fat 9 kcal/g; 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ.

Balanced diet for an Indian adolescent: cereals for carbohydrate, pulses and milk for protein, vegetables and fruits for vitamins/minerals and fibre, oil/ghee in moderation.

Deficiency mapping: vitamin A - night blindness; vitamin B1 - beri-beri; vitamin C - scurvy; vitamin D - rickets/osteomalacia; iron - anaemia; iodine - goitre; calcium - weak bones and tetany.

Digestion sequence: mouth (salivary amylase, starch to maltose) → stomach (HCl, pepsin, protein) → duodenum (bile emulsifies fat; pancreatic amylase, trypsin, lipase) → ileum (absorption via villi) → colon (water absorption).

Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gall bladder and contains no enzymes; it neutralises chyme and emulsifies fats.

Metabolism: catabolism breaks complex molecules and releases energy (glycolysis, Krebs cycle); anabolism builds molecules and consumes energy.

Basal metabolic rate is measured at rest, about 12 hours after food, and rises with muscle mass, fever and thyroid activity.

Food preservation principles: remove moisture, lower pH, add salt/sugar, or heat-seal to prevent microbial growth; example - pickling, drying, canning.

Handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds removes transient flora; critical times are before eating/cooking and after toilet use.

Skin care rule: bathe daily, dry between toes and skin folds to prevent fungal infection; use clean, dry cotton clothing in humid weather.

Oral hygiene: brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, change the toothbrush every three months, and limit frequent sugary snacks.

Menstrual hygiene: change absorbent every 4–6 hours, wash with plain water, and dry cloth pads in direct sunlight.

Nail and hair care: keep nails short and clean to prevent nail-bed infection and worm-egg transfer; wash hair regularly and treat dandruff early.

Foot hygiene for monsoon: keep feet dry, wear open footwear, and treat athlete's foot with antifungal agents rather than sharing towels.

Adolescent hygiene: daily bathing controls body odour from active apocrine glands; deodorant masks odour but does not replace washing.

Sleep and posture: 8–9 hours of sleep and an upright sitting posture prevent fatigue and spinal strain.

Safe water criterion: potable water is free of pathogens and excess chemicals; chlorination at 0.2–0.5 mg/L residual chlorine protects stored water.

Water purification order: sedimentation → filtration (sand/charcoal) → disinfection (boiling, chlorine, or UV).

Sanitation hierarchy: safe excreta disposal (pour-flush or twin-pit latrine) > open defecation; pit latrines must be sited away from wells and downhill of water sources.

Vector control: stagnant water breeds mosquitoes - empty containers weekly, use larvivorous fish, and screen windows; rats need covered bins and rodent-proof storage.

Waste segregation: green bin for wet/biodegradable waste, blue bin for dry recyclables, red bin for hazardous or biomedical waste.

Disease transmission routes: faecal-oral (cholera, typhoid, polio), airborne droplet (TB, measles), vector-borne (malaria, dengue), contact (ringworm).

Sewage treatment stages: primary screening/sedimentation, secondary biological oxidation, tertiary disinfection before discharge.

Public health indicators: infant mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, birth rate and death rate measure community health status.

Meal-planning steps: assess family needs by age/sex/activity, fix the food budget, list locally available foods, then balance cereals, pulses, vegetables, milk and fat.

Use food groups to check adequacy: energy-giving (cereals, roots, sugar, fat), body-building (pulses, milk, egg, meat), protective (vegetables, fruits).

Family life cycle stages - infancy, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy/lactation, old age - each changes nutrient priority.

Pregnancy and lactation need extra protein, iron, calcium and folate; exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months.

Low-cost protein combinations: cereal plus pulse (rice–dal, roti–chana) supplies complementary amino acids and improves protein quality.

Dietary modification rules: for hypertension reduce salt and pickles; for diabetes restrict refined sugar and spread carbohydrate across meals; for anaemia add iron-rich foods with vitamin C.

Nutrition labelling: read the per-100 g column, compare energy, sugar, salt and fat, and check the vegetarian/non-vegetarian mark.

Family health records: keep immunisation cards, growth charts and antenatal check-up dates to track preventive care.

Management process: planning → organising → implementing → evaluating; resources are classified as human (time, energy, skill) and non-human (money, goods).

Time-management tools: daily schedule, work simplification (combining tasks, using labour-saving equipment) and peak-load planning.

Work simplification principles: eliminate unnecessary steps, rearrange the work centre, and use both hands for symmetrical tasks.

Kitchen work triangle links storage, preparation and cooking zones; total one-way distance should be short to cut fatigue.

Budget rule of thumb: fixed expenses first (rent, utilities), then flexible food/clothing, then savings; keep an emergency fund.

Ergonomics: work-surface height near elbow level, good lighting, and frequent posture change reduce fatigue and injury.

Cleaning agents: detergent lifts grease, acid removes scale, bleach disinfects; never mix bleach with acid cleaners because chlorine gas forms.

Energy saving at home: switch off appliances at the plug, use LED lamps, and pressure-cook food to save fuel.

Consumer rights include safety, information, choice, being heard, redressal and consumer education; the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 covers e-commerce and product liability.

Standard marks to check: ISI (industrial goods), Agmark (agricultural produce), FSSAI licence number (food), Hallmark (gold), BIS for electrical safety.

A complaint needs proof of purchase - bill, warranty card or invoice - plus a written description and the date of defect.

Consumer responsibilities: compare before buying, read labels and expiry dates, insist on a bill, and avoid impulse buying.

Redressal path: complain to the seller, then the manufacturer, then the District/State/National Consumer Commission depending on claim value.

Advertising tricks to identify: exaggerated claims, 'limited offer' pressure, celebrity endorsement, hidden conditions in fine print, and bait pricing.

Money management: distinguish needs from wants, keep records of spending, and compare interest rates before borrowing.

Resource conservation: reduce, reuse, recycle, and repair - the 3R+1 hierarchy applied to household goods.

Fibre classification: natural (cotton, silk, wool, jute) and man-made (rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic); natural fibres are absorbent, synthetics are strong and quick-drying.

Cotton: cellulose fibre from the boll, absorbent, strong when wet, damaged by strong acid and mildew; wash with mild detergent.

Silk: protein fibre from the silkworm, lustrous and strong, damaged by sunlight, perspiration and strong alkali; dry-clean or hand-wash gently.

Wool: protein fibre with natural crimp and scales; felts and shrinks with heat and agitation, so wash cool and dry flat.

Burn test: cotton smells of burning paper and leaves grey ash; wool/silk smell of burning hair and leave crushable black beads; synthetics melt into a hard bead.

Weaving terms: warp (lengthwise, stronger yarns) and weft (crosswise); plain, twill and satin are basic weaves.

Fabric finishes: mercerisation improves cotton lustre and strength; sanforisation reduces shrinkage; calendering gives a smooth surface.

Care labels: tub with water = washable, triangle = bleaching allowed, square with circle = tumble dry, iron symbol dots set temperature.

Body measurements are taken over close-fitting clothing with a non-stretch tape; take length, circumference and width measures in a fixed order and record them.

Pattern layout rules: place grain-line parallel to the selvedge, keep fold-line pieces on the folded fabric, and follow nap or print direction.

Seam allowance for school garments is usually 1–1.5 cm; add extra at hems and side seams for growth.

Basic hand stitches: running (gathering/basting), back stitch (strong seam), hemming (invisible finish), buttonhole and blanket stitch (edge finishing).

Machine care: clean lint from the bobbin case, oil per manual, use the correct needle size for the fabric, and adjust tension before starting.

Stain removal rule: treat stains while fresh, blot (do not rub), test the reagent on a hidden hem, and work from the back of the fabric.

Laundry sequence: sort by colour/fabric, pre-treat stains, soak briefly, wash, rinse thoroughly, dry in shade for coloured garments, then iron at correct temperature.

Storage: fold woollens with neem or naphthalene balls to deter insects, air clothes before storing, and keep silk away from direct sunlight.

Development domains: physical, motor, cognitive, language, social-emotional and moral; development proceeds head-to-tail (cephalocaudal) and centre-to-outward (proximodistal).

Milestones: sits with support ~6 months, stands with support ~9 months, walks alone ~12–15 months, speaks two-word phrases ~18–24 months.

Growth measures: weight doubles by 5 months and triples by 1 year; height increases about 25 cm in the first year.

Immunisation schedule (India, UIP): BCG, OPV-0 and hepatitis B at birth; pentavalent and OPV at 6, 10 and 14 weeks; measles-rubella at 9–12 months; boosters at 16–24 months.

Piaget stages: sensorimotor (0–2 y), preoperational (2–7 y), concrete operational (7–11 y), formal operational (11+ y).

Play types: solitary, parallel, associative and cooperative; play develops motor skills, language and social rules.

Parenting styles: authoritative (firm and warm) supports best adjustment; authoritarian, permissive and uninvolved styles carry higher risk.

Adolescence brings puberty changes - growth spurt, secondary sexual characters, and need for guidance on hygiene and peer pressure.

First-aid sequence: assess the scene for danger → check response, airway, breathing, circulation → call for help → give care until trained help arrives.

Bleeding control: apply direct pressure with a clean pad, elevate the limb, and add pads on top; do not remove a soaked pad.

Burns: cool with running water for about 20 minutes, cover with a clean non-stick dressing; never apply ice, butter or toothpaste, and do not burst blisters.

Fracture and sprain: immobilise with a splint, apply cold packs for sprains, and use RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation.

Choking in a conscious adult: give up to 5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre); for an infant use back blows and chest thrusts.

Unconscious but breathing casualty: place in the recovery position and monitor breathing continuously; do not give food or drink.

Snake bite: keep the person calm and still, immobilise the bitten limb below heart level, remove rings, and reach hospital; do not cut, suck or apply a tight tourniquet.

Poisoning and dog bite: do not induce vomiting after a corrosive poison; for a dog bite wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and start anti-rabies vaccination.

Communicable diseases spread by contact, droplets, contaminated food/water, vectors, and blood or body fluids.

Tuberculosis: caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spread by droplets; treated with DOTS for 6 months or longer - incomplete treatment causes drug resistance.

Malaria is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito; dengue by Aedes aegypti, which bites during the day and breeds in clean stagnant water.

Typhoid, cholera and hepatitis A spread by the faecal-oral route; prevention is safe water, handwashing and safe food handling.

Prevention levels: primary (immunisation, hygiene), secondary (early diagnosis and screening), tertiary (rehabilitation and limiting disability).

Home safety: keep medicines and kerosene out of children's reach, cover electrical sockets, fix anti-skid strips in bathrooms and keep stairs lit.

Road safety: helmet for two-wheeler riders, seat belt in cars, and no phone use while driving; pedestrians walk facing traffic on roads without footpaths.

Disaster response: know the school evacuation route, drop-cover-hold during an earthquake, and move to higher ground after a tsunami warning.