Energy Systems Flashcards
2 types of Energy Systems in humans
Anaerobic
ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate
ATP – CP, Adenosine Triphosphate – Creatine Phosphate
Lactic Acid – Anaerobic Glycolysis
Aerobic – Aerobic Glycolysis (Carbohydrate, then Fat, then Protein)
Length each energy system lasts for
- ATP (2-3 Seconds)
- ATP-CP Energy system (8-10 Seconds)
- Anaerobic Glycolysis (Approx 90 Seconds)
- Aerobic Energy System
what is …
C6H12O6
and…
C3H6O3
Glucose
Lactic Acid
Facts about adenosine triphosphate
- The universal Energy Currency
- only form of chemical energy that can be used by living cells
- only enough for a few seconds of high- intensity exercise
- Can only be stored in small amounts
where does energy come from in ATP
Energy derived from metabolism of food is used to generate ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate)
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Proteins
- Creatine Phosphate
Facts about creatine stores
- The average adult stores 120g - 140g of creatine within their body
- Between 1 - 2g of creatine can be consumed from the diet per day.
- The body will use ~2g of creatine per day to perform everyday activities.
- Between 60 - 70% of the creatine stored in muscle ends up binding to phosphate to become phosphocreatine
Creatine phosphate can be obtained from two sources:
ingestion of meat or fish
internal production by the liver and kidneys
side effects of creatine phosphate supplements
- Nausea, loose stools, cramping, upset stomach, weight gain, diarrhea and weakness usually occur when more than 5 grams of creatine are used per day.
- Side effects of creatine can also include dizziness, high blood pressure, liver dysfunction and kidney damage.
what is anaerobic glycolysis and how it works
Anaerobic refers to the production of energy without using oxygen
Takes place in the Muscle Sarcoplasm
This system dominates in events lasting up to 90 Seconds
Glycolysis refers to the breakdown of carbohydrate in the form of glucose or glycogen
Carbohydrate is broken down to supply the energy necessary to re-synthesise ATP, however this breakdown only occurs partially and the end product is Lactic Acid
When Lactic Acid accumulates in the muscle and blood, temporary muscle fatigue occurs and prevents further muscle contractions
when does blood lactate occur and what happens when it occurs
Blood lactate – This occurs in trained athletes when their exercise level reaches 70-80% of their maximum capacity
The liver will convert as much lactate in the blood as possible back into glucose
However, if the accumulation of blood lactate is greater than the livers ability to neutralize it, your muscles will feel a burning sensation and fatigue will follow
how does the aerobic system work
This system can generate ATP from the breakdown of carbohydrate and fat in the presence of oxygen
The Aerobic system cannot produce ATP as rapidly as the other two anaerobic systems, but can produce larger amounts
The production of ATP takes place within the Mitochondria and receives the derivative Pyruvic acid.
There is no accumulation of Lactic Acid
38 molecules of ATP are generated for every molecule of glucose
Fat can be metabolised but only in the presence of carbohydrate
what is vo2 max a measure of and what does it mean
a measure of aerobic capacity
the maximum rate at which the heart, lungs, and muscles can effectively use oxygen during exercise
Factors affecting vo2 max
- The amount of capillaries around the lungs and the working muscles
- The amount of haemoglobin in the blood
- The type of training (or otherwise) the muscle has been through.
- Gender – women have smaller left ventricles, lower stroke volumes, lower haemoglobin levels and lower respiratory levels.
- Age – the older you get the lower your heart rate becomes (5-7 beats lost per decade), lower vital capacity and lower blood pressure.
Training effects
- Regular aerobic training raises V02 Max, due to:
- Increased stroke volume
- Therefore increased cardiac output
- Increased haemoglobin
- Increased glycogen stores
- Reduced body fat (therefore less oxygen being used for the energy systems)
