Exam #2 Chapter 10

Question 1

Explain the difference between absolute and relative strength gain between males and females

Answer 1

Men and women have different absolute strength due to men having a higher body weight and greater muscle mass. Men and women have a similar relative strength when it comes to lower body strength but again men have a higher relative strength when it comes to upper body.

Question 2

Explain the relationship between increases in cross-sectional area and strength gains

Answer 2

When the increase in cross- sectional area increases, this allows for the ability to have more actin and myosin binding sites. The more binding sites that are available, this is going to allow for more strength gains as the type II fibers are going to be more active.

Question 3

While muscular strength involves muscle size, what other factors may heavily impact strength gains? (you should also be able to discuss what hypertrophy is and why/how it occurs)

Answer 3

• Strength gains result from, Muscle size.
• Neural control, Strength gain cannot occur without neural adaptations via plasticity
• Motor unit recruitment, Normally motor units recruited asynchronously

Question 4

Explain what synchronization of motor unit recruitment is, as well as the specific positive physiological impacts on muscular strength

Answer 4

Synchronization of motor unit recruitment means that motor units are recruited at the same time instead of one after the other to allow for more force to be produced for a longer period of time.

Question 5

Explain how the rate of neural discharge may impact strength production

Answer 5

The faster and longer a neural signal is sent to a muscle the more force will be produced for a longer period of time.

Question 6

Explain this inhibitory mechanism (function and role)

Answer 6

Resistance training will cause a decrease in GTOs which is going to allow the body to lift more weight.

Question 7

What is the benefit of this adaptation?

Answer 7

Want to decrease because it will allow for more weight to be lifted or for more tension to be placed on the muscle

Question 8

Explain the impact of resistance training on agonist and antagonist activation. Why is this adaptation beneficial?

Answer 8

During resistance training the antagonist or GTOs will be inhibited with adaptations, and the agonist or muscle spindles will experience an increase in activation which allows for faster and more powerful muscle contractions.

Question 9

Explain fiber-type transitions in relation to resistance training. What specific adaptations are occurring to cause these fiber transitions?

Answer 9

Over time with resistance training type II fibers become more aerobic and transition from type IIx-type IIa and type I fibers become more anaerobic. This can also cause cross innervation where type II fibers are innervated by type I neurons which causes them to act like type I muscle fibers.

Question 10

Explain the window of opportunity following resistance training and what is happening physiologically to allow for increased protein synthesis

Answer 10

The window of opportunity following resistance training to maximize hypertrophy is around 30 minutes. What is happening physiologically is essentially mechanical stretch will activate mTOR (regulates protein synthesis). mTOR is very rich in leucine and this will increase overall protein synthesis. Eating sugar after resistance training also causes insulin release which is anabolic

Increase preload (increases venous return
Frank Starling mechanism - stretch
Decrease afterload - vasodilation of aorta allows SV to be higher
(Catecholamine release increase LV contraction)