Energy systems

1. Energy SystemsEnergy Systems
And physical activity…And physical activity…

2. EnergyEnergy
The body needs energy for basic The body needs energy for basic
bodily functions and activity during bodily functions and activity during
your whole life.your whole life.
This includes breathing, sleeping, This includes breathing, sleeping,
digesting, sitting in a chair, sprinting digesting, sitting in a chair, sprinting
for a bus, and everything else you do for a bus, and everything else you do
day and night.day and night.

3. Adeonsine Triphosphate (ATP)Adeonsine Triphosphate (ATP)
A chemical compound.A chemical compound.
Is the energy source for all muscular Is the energy source for all muscular
effort.effort.
Sources of ATP: Carbohydrate, fat Sources of ATP: Carbohydrate, fat
and protein.and protein.

4. CarbohydrateCarbohydrate
When digested is broken down to When digested is broken down to
glucose and stored as glycogen in glucose and stored as glycogen in
the muscles and liver.the muscles and liver.
Glycogen can provide the energy for Glycogen can provide the energy for
ATP production under both anaerobic ATP production under both anaerobic
(no oxygen required) and aerobic (no oxygen required) and aerobic
(oxygen required) conditions.(oxygen required) conditions.

5. FatFat
Major source of energy for long term Major source of energy for long term
activity.activity.
Is used to meet sub-maximal energy Is used to meet sub-maximal energy
demands.demands.
During rest conditions, fat produces During rest conditions, fat produces
the majority of the required ATP.the majority of the required ATP.

6. ProteinProtein
Only minimally contributes to ATP Only minimally contributes to ATP
production.production.
Is only used in severe circumstances Is only used in severe circumstances
(such as a marathon or starvation) (such as a marathon or starvation)
when the body has severely depleted when the body has severely depleted
it’s supplies of carbohydrate and fat.it’s supplies of carbohydrate and fat.

7. Energy from ATPEnergy from ATP
ATP is stored in limited quantities in the muscle, ATP is stored in limited quantities in the muscle,
so each muscle fibre must be able to create it’s so each muscle fibre must be able to create it’s
own from the food fuels.own from the food fuels.
ATP is an adenosine molecule with three ATP is an adenosine molecule with three
phosphate molecules attached.phosphate molecules attached.
For release of energy, one phosphate molecule For release of energy, one phosphate molecule
breaks off, releasing energy and creating breaks off, releasing energy and creating
adenosine diphospate (ADP).adenosine diphospate (ADP).
As long as there are sufficient energy substrate As long as there are sufficient energy substrate
this process can be reversed with the use of food this process can be reversed with the use of food
fuels and ATP is rebuilt with the addition of fuels and ATP is rebuilt with the addition of
another phosphate molecule. another phosphate molecule.

10. Three Energy SystemsThree Energy Systems
Phosphate, Anaerobic Glycolysis and Phosphate, Anaerobic Glycolysis and
Aerobic EnergyAerobic Energy
All three pathways operate at one All three pathways operate at one
time.time.
The contribution of each varies The contribution of each varies
depending on the intensity of the depending on the intensity of the
activity.activity.

11. Phosphate Energy SystemPhosphate Energy System
Provides the bulk of ATP during Provides the bulk of ATP during
powerful or explosive efforts.powerful or explosive efforts.
May be a once off movement such as May be a once off movement such as
jumping or ongoing such as a 100m jumping or ongoing such as a 100m
sprint.sprint.
Lasts for about 10 seconds of Lasts for about 10 seconds of
maximal effort.maximal effort.

13. Anaerobic Glycolysis SystemAnaerobic Glycolysis System
Also known as the Lactic Acid Also known as the Lactic Acid
System.System.
Provides energy in high intensity, Provides energy in high intensity,
sub maximal efforts.sub maximal efforts.
Muscle stores of glycogen are broken Muscle stores of glycogen are broken
down to resynthesise ADP.down to resynthesise ADP.
Lasts from around 10 seconds until Lasts from around 10 seconds until
60 seconds of exercise.60 seconds of exercise.

15. Aerobic Energy SystemAerobic Energy System
Also known as aerobic glycolysis.Also known as aerobic glycolysis.
Provides the bulk of energy for sub Provides the bulk of energy for sub
maximal efforts and recovery.maximal efforts and recovery.
Contributes to all activities from Contributes to all activities from
about 1 minute onwards.about 1 minute onwards.
Fat becomes a significant contributor Fat becomes a significant contributor
to ATP production.to ATP production.
Can operate for an unlimited work Can operate for an unlimited work
period.period.

17. ATP production – different exertion ATP production – different exertion
conditionsconditions
The length and intensity of physical The length and intensity of physical
exertion determine which of the energy exertion determine which of the energy
systems is dominant.systems is dominant.
As activity time increases, the influence of As activity time increases, the influence of
the aerobic system on ATP production also the aerobic system on ATP production also
increases.increases.