Anatomy & Physiology - Energy Systems Flashcards
The way in which energy is provided depends on:
- Intensity
- Duration
Where does the energy come from for muscle contractions:
- Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
- ATP is the only usable energy in our body
What does ATP consist of:
- 1 molecule of Adenosine
- 3 phosphates
How is energy released from an ATP molecule:
- Energy is released by breaking down bonds. Enzymes are used to break the ATP compound
What Enzyme breaks down ATP:
- ATPase is the enzyme that breaks down ATP and leaves ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and an Inorganic Phosphate (Pi)
What is energy released in the form of:
- Energy is released in the form of HEAT (Exothermic reaction)
What happens when the bond is broken:
- When the ATP becomes ADP because of the breaking of a bond the spare phosphorus atom, can no longer be used as it is a dead battery
What would happen if we didn’t recharge the atom:
- Without recharging it and turning it back into an ATP compound, our body would cease to function in a matter of seconds
What is ATP Resynthesis:
- ATP within muscle fibers are used up very quickly (2 seconds) and therefore needs to be replenished immediately
- Resynthesis of ATP is done through joining of ADP and a single phosphate. This energy regeneration is only possible through one of three energy systems
What are the “Fuels” that enable ATP Resynthesis:
- Glycogen
- Fats
- Protein
- Phosphocreatine
What is Glycogen’s role in ATP Resynthesis:
- Stored in the muscles and the liver. It’s converted into glucose before being used for ATP resynthesis this can be done both aerobically and anaerobically
What is Fats role in ATP Resynthesis:
- At rest 2/3 of energy requirements are met through breaking down fatty acids. Rich in energy, but require large amounts of O2 to break down. Transport of fats is slow and only used during low intensity
What is Proteins role in ATP Resynthesis:
- Contribute the least to the energy yield, only 15. Used the carbohydrates and fat stores are running low
What is Phosphocreatine’s role in ATP Resynthesis:
- A chemical stored within the muscle cell. Used within the first 10 seconds of intense exercise
What are the 3 energy systems that generate ATP:
- ATP-PC system
- Anaerobic glycolytic system
- Aerobic system
What energy system is used for HIGH intensity exercise:
- Anaerobic glycolytic system
What energy system is used for LOW intensity exercise:
- Aerobic system
How long does ATP last for:
- 2 seconds
What is phosphocreatine (PC):
- Energy rich chemical produced naturally by the body
Where is Phosphocreatine found:
- In the Sarcoplasm of the muscles
What enzyme detects high levels ADP:
- Creatine Kinase
What does Creatine Kinase do:
- Breaks down PC to P + C to release energy for ADP to combine with the extra phosphate to resynthesis ATP
What is the relationship between ATP and PC:
- A Coupled Reaction
What is Coupled reaction:
- When energy required by one process is supplied by another
How energy is released from PC:
- Breakdown of phosphocreatine releases energy and the energy is used to convert ADP to ATP and this is known as a Coupled reaction
How many PC is broken down to make how many ATP:
- Every 1 molecule of PC broken down, 1 ATP is resynthesised
How long will the ATP-PC provide energy for:
- 8-10 seconds
How much can PC store after 3 minutes:
- 98% after 3 minute of rest
What is needed for PC to recover:
- It can only replenish itself during low intensity exercise
- And when oxygen is present
What sporting examples require ATP-PC system:
- 100m sprint
- Weight lifting
- Long jump
What time of activities is ATP-PC used for:
- High intensity, short duration activity lasting between 5-10 seconds
4 Advantages of the ATP-PC system :
- No harmful by-products
- ATP can be resynthesised rapidly
- Pc stores replenished within 3 minutes
- ATP-PC system can be extended through the use of a creatine supplement
3 Disadvantages of the ATP-PC system:
- Short duration energy depletes quickly (8-10 seconds)
- 1 ATP molecule re-synthesised for 1 molecule of PC
- PC synthesis can only take place in the presence of oxygen
What type of energy does the Anaerobic Glycolytic system provide:
- Provides energy for high intensity activity (longer than the ATP-PC system)
What does the duration of the Anaerobic Glycolytic system depend on:
- Depends on the fitness of the athlete and the intensity of the activity
What happens to the Anaerobic Glycolytic system when PC depletes:
- Once PC is depleted (around 10seconds) the anaerobic glycolytic system takes over and generates ATP from the breakdown of the fuel glucose.
What is the ‘fuel’ glucose supplied from for the anaerobic glycolytic system:
- Glucose is supplied from the digestion of carbohydrates and is stored in the muscles and the liver as glycogen
What enzyme breaks glycogen into glucose:
- When the PC stores are low/depleted the enzyme Glycogen Phosphorylase is activated to break down the glycogen into glucose
Where does the breakdown of glucose take place:
- Glucose in the absence of oxygen takes place in the sarcoplasm of the muscle cell and is called Anaerobic glycolysis and causes the production of Pyruvic acid
What is glucose broken down to resynthesis:
- 2 molecules of ATP
For glucose to breakdown what enzyme needs to be present:
- Phosophfructokinase
What happens because of the process being anaerobic:
- The pyretic acid is further broken down into lactic acid by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
What happens the longer exercise continues:
- The higher the rise in lactic acid and PH levels (Lactic acid is a strong acid that causes pain&fatigue)
When can lactic acid be removed from the body:
- The build up in the muscles and cannot be removed until the body is respiring aerobically
What does Lactic acid do:
- Denatures the enzymes involved in respiration meaning the muscle cells become slower at resynthesising ATP