anaerobic glycolytic system

Question 1

when is the anaerobic glycolytic system used?

Answer 1

• high intensity
• low oxygen supply
• 400m
• longer than the ATP-PC system
• with a lower intensity this system could be last up to 2-3 minutes as the demand for energy is slightly less but can peak up to 45 secs

Question 2

how does the anaerobic glycolytic system work?

Answer 2

anaerobic glycolysis

• when PC stores are low, glycogen phosphorylase (enzyme) breaks down glycogen into glucose which breaks down into pyruvic acid by phosphofructokinase (enzyme).
• energy is released to allow ATP re-synthesis and 2 molecules of ATP are produced for 1 molecule of glucose
• pyruvic acid breaks down into lactic acid by LDH
• takes place in the sarcoplasm of the muscle cell where oxygen is not available

Question 3

advantages of anaerobic glycolytic system

Answer 3

• ATP can be re-synthesised quickly
• can be used for a sprint finish
• with oxygen lactic acid can be converted back into the liver glycogen or used as a fuel through oxidation into C02 and H20

Question 4

disadvantages of anaerobic glycolytic system

Answer 4

• lactic acid as the by-product

- only a small amount of energy can be released from glycogen under anaerobic conditions