energy for muscle contraction

• Three main ways ATP is generated for muscle contraction:

  • Aerobic respiration: occurs in the cell's mitochondria and requires oxygen, suitable for long periods of low-intensity exercise like a long walk
  • Anaerobic respiration: ATP is rapidly produced by glycolysis, leading to the formation of lactate which can cause muscle fatigue, good for short bursts of intense exercise like a 400 m sprint
  • ATP-creatine phosphate (ATP-CP) system: involves phosphorylating ADP by adding a phosphate group from CP, generates ATP quickly for short bursts of vigorous exercise like a tennis serve
• Lactate fermentation converts pyruvate to lactate, which can accumulate in muscles and lead to muscle fatigue
• The ATP-CP system is anaerobic and alactic, meaning it doesn't require oxygen and doesn't produce lactate