Fibre types

Question 1

What is the mitochondria?

Answer 1

Found in the muscle as part of the cell where aerobic respiration takes place

Question 2

What is aerobic respiration?

Answer 2

Producing energy using oxygen, energy is released from glucose. (Aerobic activities are generally low intensity and endurance).

Question 3

What is anaerobic respiration?

Answer 3

Producing energy without oxygen, energy is released from glucose. (Anaerobic activities involve high intensity and power)

Question 4

What is Type I?

Answer 4

Slow Twitch

Question 5

What is Type IIa?

Answer 5

Fast oxidative

Question 6

What is Type IIx?

Answer 6

Fast glycolytic

Question 7

What are the characteristics of type I? (slow twitch)

Answer 7

• Contract slowly
• Low force of contraction
• Aerobic
• High resistance to fatigue
• Rich blood supply and contain many mitochondria
  (low intensity, longer duration activities)

Question 8

Name sporting examples for Type I muscle fibre.

Answer 8

Endurance events such as :
Marathon
Triathlon
Long distance rowing

Question 9

What are the characteristics of Type IIa (fast oxidative)

Answer 9

• Contract fast
• Produces a great force
• Fatigue faster than Type I because fibres are less reliant on oxygen for energy supplied by the blood.
• Aerobic and Anaerobic
• Medium resistance to fatigue
  (suited to speed, power and strength activities)

Question 10

Name sporting examples of Type IIa (fast oxidative).

Answer 10

Middle distance events such as:
400m
Tennis rally
Combination punches
Gymnastics floor routine

Question 11

What are the characteristics of Type IIx (fast, glycolytic)

Answer 11

• Contract rapidly
• High force of contraction
• Depends almost entirely on anaerobic
• Low resistance to fatigue
  (high intensity, shorter duration activity)

Question 12

Name sporting examples for Type IIx (fast, glycolytic)

Answer 12

Power events such as:
100m
Shot-put
Javelin
Power lifting

Question 13

What does the muscular system work with to bring out muscle contraction?

Answer 13

Works with the nervous system

Question 14

What are impulses sent to?

Answer 14

Motor neurones (nerves)

Question 15

What is the motor neuron attached to?

Answer 15

A number of muscle fibres in the muscle - together these are called a motor unit. The muscle fibres within the motor unit will be of the same type.

Question 16

What is the ‘All or none law’

Answer 16

When the motor neuron receives a signal to contract, all the fibres attached to the motor neurone will contract. This is called the all or none law.

The force the muscle produces will depend on the amount of motor units stimulated to contract.

Question 17

What does the amount of force the muscle produce depend on?

Answer 17

The amount of motor units stimulated to contract.