Types Of Energy Systems
We always see people who talk about energy in their life and make statements such as ‘I do not have any energy today’. Our body requires energy for its functioning and the availability of this energy is reflected in such statements. There are three main three types of energy systems in our body and they are phosphagen system, glycolysis system and aerobic system.
PHOSPHAGEN SYSTEM
If you are on a high intensity interval training or doing some intense work that requires a lot of power, your muscles will have to produce a large amount of power and it will result in a high demand for Adenosine Tri Phosphate (ATP). This demand for ATP should be met in the quickest way possible and phosphagen system are the types of energy systems capable of doing this in our body.
In phosphagen system, a phosphate is donated to the ADP from the creatine phosphate stored in the skeletal muscles in order to produce ATP. This process does not make use of any carbohydrate or fat and the regenerated ATP was done solely by using creatine phosphate. These types of energy systems do not use oxygen for ATP production and are categorized into anaerobic energy systems hence. Phosphagen systems act as the predominant energy systems in our body for short term intense exercises but rapid fatigues are possible since the creatin phosphate availability is limited in the skeletal muscles.
GLYCOLYSIS
Glycolysis is the predominant system among the three different types of energy systems in our body and is also the second fastest way to synthesize ATP. Carbohydrates present in the body in the form of glucose are broken down during glycolysis by several chemical processes and ATP is released during this process. Two molecules of ATP can be produced by each molecule of glucose that is being broken down and since the number of ATP produced per molecule is comparatively less, it cannot be considered as an efficient energy production system. However, glycolysis is among the types of energy systems that can produce ATP faster. Glycolysis is an aerobic reaction and requires oxygen for breaking down the carbohydrate molecules and further reactions. The rate of glycolysis also depends on the amount of available oxygen.
AEROBIC SYSTEM
Aerobic system is the most complex types of energy systems and the slowest in terms of ATP production. This energy system is dependent on oxygen and the cellular energy of our body comes from the metabolic reactions that occur in the presence of oxygen. Aerobic system consists of two cycles that are called as Krebs cycle and electron transport chain.
Aerobic system makes use of the glucose content in the blood for further reactions. The electrons produced during kreb’s cycle is transported through electron transport chain and using this electrons, water and ATP molecules are produced.
All the types of energy systems in our body function in a different way and knowledge about them is important while planning an exercise routine if you want to stay out of body troubles.
