4.2. ATP-PC System

Question 1

Summarise the ATP/PC system in the form of an equation

Answer 1

PC ——> P + C + Energy (enzyme creatine kinase breaks it down)

Energy + ADP+ PC -> ATP

Question 2

What is a coupled reaction?

Answer 2

When the products from one reaction are used in another

Question 3

What is an exothermic reaction?

Answer 3

a chemical reaction that releases energy as it progresses

Question 4

What is an endothermic reaction?

Answer 4

a chemical reaction that requires energy for it to progress

Question 5

Where is the site of reaction?

Answer 5

muscle sarcoplasm

Question 6

What type of reaction?

Answer 6

anaerobic

Question 7

What is the chemical fuel?

Answer 7

PC

Question 8

What are the controlling enzymes?

Answer 8

creatine kinase

Question 9

What is the recovery process?

Answer 9

alactacid recovery

Question 10

What are the by products?

Answer 10

none

Question 11

What is the duration?

Answer 11

3-10 seconds

Question 12

What is the intensity?

Answer 12

very high

Question 13

What is the yield?

Answer 13

1 ATP
1:1

Question 14

Example of a performance that uses the ATP/PC system

Answer 14

100m sprint

Question 15

Adaptations to training

Answer 15

• Anaerobic training overloads system = increase of muscle stores of ATP and PC
• This delays the threshold and increases potential duration

Question 16

Advantages of the ATP/PC system

Answer 16

• Doesn’t require o2
• PC stored in muscle cell = readily accessible and available
• Simple (small compound = quick reactions/ resynthesis)
• Automatically stimulated by decreased ATP levels
• No fatiguing products

Question 17

Disadvantages of the ATP/PC system

Answer 17

• Only small amounts of ATP and PC stored in muscles and cells
• 1 PC resynthesises 1 ATP = very low yield
• only provides energy for up to 10 seconds = cannot be sustained