Sex Differences

Question 1

Body Composition

Answer 1

Adult women have ±10% more body fat and less muscle. however no difference before puberty

Question 2

The difference in Muscle Fibre type

Answer 2

Males have a lower percentage of type 1 fibres

Males have a higher type 2A

Type 2B no difference

Question 3

Relative Strength

Answer 3

STRENGTH PER 
BODY MASS 
Females have approximately 
5-25% lower strength 
Upper body 
Females < Males 
Lower body 
Females 
= Male

Question 4

STRENGTH PER FAT-FREE MASS MALES AND FEMALES

Answer 4

EQUAL, QUALITY OF MUSCLE ARE IDENTICAL BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALESEQUAL, QUALITY OF MUSCLE ARE IDENTICAL BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES
No differences exist in strength
between the sexes, which indicates that muscle quality is not sex-specific.

Question 5

Absolute strength

Answer 5

women are generally weaker because they have a lower quantity of the muscle (but not because of quality)

Question 6

Pennation angle between the sexes

Answer 6

Large pennation angles allow more fibres to be packed into a muscle producing more force at the cost of a reduced velocity of shortening.
Females have a narrower pennation angle (excluding the hip)

Question 7

Composition change between sexes

Answer 7

Hypertrophy
- Less absolute growth in muscle mass
in females
- Similar relative growth in muscle mass
- Similar transition of type llx to Type lla