energy systems - the ATP system

• what is the ATP system?

  ATP is the currency of all biological energy. it is the only usable chemical energy in the body.
• how does the ATP system work?

  if we want to move something/ contract a muscle, the only way this can be done is through the process of ATP being broken down and energy released. the energy in the food we eat such as carbohydrates is broken down to release energy that is used to form ATP.
• how is ATP broken down?

  Enzymes are used to break down compounds and in this instance the enzyme Atpase is used to break down ATP - leaving it with adenosine di-phosphate (DI - meaning two). in simpler words ATP has one of its phosphates plucked off of it, leaving it with only two phosphates.

  
• quick key note

  ATP is stored energy and ADP is released energy
• what type of reaction is the release of energy from ATP

  exothermic reaction
• how do we rebuild ATP?

  this equation of ATP being broken down into ADP is however a reversable equation. in order to resynthesis ADP back into ATP we need to consume energy as food. the conversion of fuels into energy takes place in one of these energy systems:

  - the aerobic system

  - the ATP-PC system

  - the anaerobic glycolytic system