Physiology Flashcards
Motor neuron
Nerve cells that send signals to muscle fibre to conract
Muscle fibre
Long cylindrical cells that muscles are made up of
Fast/slow twitch fibres
Type of muscle that relies on glycolysis to create the necasary ATP for fuel for muscle contraction. Fast twitch fibres use glycolysis which produces ATP much faster than oxygen dependant slow twitch fibres. Fast twitch are more powerful, slow twitch are more resistant to fatigue.
All or none muscle principles
A muscle fiber contracts at 100% or it doesn’t contract at all. Therefore, if you lift a weight that is 50% of your max, then 50% of the potential muscle fibers that could be used to lift that weight contract at 100% and the rest of them don’t contract at all. In order to utilize ALL the potential muscle fibers used in lifting a weight, then a RM must be performed. To use all fibres or call in new ones when old ones fatigue.
ATP
Adenosine triphospate, essentially it’s the scientific word for the body’s energy. It’s an enzyme responsible for transporting energy in all cellular processes in the body. ATP is required for muscle contraction, thus it is an extremely important molecule when it comes to strength.
Creatine Phosphate
Molecule that helps in recycling used ATP. With more it can produce more ATP used for muscle growth
Anaerobic energy system
Creating ATP without relying on oxygen. Recycling of stored ATP by creatine and glycolysis are both anaerobic.
Aerobic energy system
Creating ATP with relying on oxygen. It depends upon the presence of oxygen and fatty acids.
Lactate
Product of glycolysis. Can be used by aerobic energy systems to produce more ATP
Oxidation
The production of energy from the respiratory process in which you breath in oxygen and then that oxygen oxidizes the fatty acids to create ATP.
Fatty acids
Lipids used to create ATP when reacted with oxygen
Glycolosis
Converts glucose into ATP/energy
Hypertrophy
Increase in muscle size
Atrophy
Decrease in muscle size
Anabolism
Process that leads to molecular growth. In the case of strength training, when your body is in an anabolic state, muscle mass increases. Hormones such as testosterone, HGH, etc, contribute to this.
