B7) Adaptations of the muscular system to exercise

Question 1

Hypertrophy

Answer 1

Overloading muscles through resistance training will increase muscle size & strength
Muscle fibres become bigger due to increased protein in the muscle cells

Question 2

Increased tendon strength

Answer 2

Ligaments & tendons around the joints become stronger & increase flexibility
Cartilage becomes thicker (release of synovial fluid increases nutrients to articular cartilage)

Question 3

Increased number & size mitochondria

Answer 3

Muscle fibres increase in size during resistance training
Due to this increase, more space for increased number & size of mitochondria
Results in muscles being able to produce more aerobic energy

Question 4

Increased myoglobin stores

Answer 4

A type of haemoglobin found exclusively in the muscles
Responsible for binding & storing blood in the muscle
Training- increases the myoglobin stored in muscles
More energy as myoglobin transport the oxygen to the mitochondria

Question 5

Increase storage of glycogen

Answer 5

Stored form of glucose
Body needs a steady supply of glycogen to produce energy
Exercise enables body to store more glycogen
Ability to train at higher intensities for longer

Question 6

Increase storage of fat

Answer 6

Fat stores are used to produce energy through aerobic glycolysis
Highly trained athletes can access the fats more efficiently
Break them into fatty acids & into energy with oxygen
Energy produced this way when carbohydrates are scarce

Question 7

Increased tolerance to lactate

Answer 7

Anaerobic training helps muscles tolerate lactic acid better & remove it more efficiently
Endurance training; capillaries increase allowing more blood with oxygen & nutrients to be able to be transported to the muscle
Muscles more able to use fats as fuel, greater efficiency at using oxygen
Increased ability to work harder for longer without fatigue
Increase on VO2max