Energy And Its Role In Sporting Performance

Energy plays a very important role in sporting performance as it is in high demand. Energy for the body is provided through numerous systems and functions that vary from the tiny cells to the entire respiratory system. Other important body functions and systems are the circulatory system and the process of gas exchange. These are just a few of the important functions that a sportspersons body needs in order to perform at the optimal level. Without necessary energy levels, an athlete will become too lethargic and tired thus have no energy or boost to keep them competing.

The Respiratory system begins the process of supplying energy to your body for sporting performance. When you breathe in, oxygen travels down your trachea and then into your lungs. Your trachea is made up of 16-20 very strong rings of cartilage, which supports both relaxed and heavy breathing. This enables the trachea to remain in shape, so it doesnÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦t collapse and stop oxygen passing into your lungs. It is inside your lungs where the process truly begins. The bronchi, located inside your lungs are ducts in which the air enters and leaves the lungs. Once the bronchi have passed the oxygen into the lungs, the oxygen continues down branch like tubing, where it finds itself at the bronchioles. The bronchioles spread out from the bronchi, and it is on the end of the bronchioles where the alveoli and capillaries await the oxygenÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s arrival.

When the oxygen enters the capillary network and alveoli (the process which transports the oxygen across the lining of the alveoli is called diffusion), it is time for gas exchange to take place. The alveoli are ideal for gas exchange as they have a high surface area allowing the maximum amount of oxygen diffusion. The damp surface, thin cell membrane and having many alveoli grouped together, helps gases to diffuse. Oxygen moves from a high concentration in the alveolus to a low concentrate in the school blood stream. Carbon Dioxide does the opposite.

The alveoli exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide and send the oxygen into the blood stream.

Now that the oxygen molecules are in your bloodstream, they are in the circulatory system. This is one of the most important systems when you are playing sport. It provides your muscles with oxygen and circulates blood around the whole body. Whilst you are playing sport, your body pumps blood quicker in order to supply your body and muscles with nutrients, blood and oxygen as soon as possible in order to keep high performance levels. Your heart continues the energy supplying process as it pumps oxygen carrying red blood cells around your circulatory system. The chemical that holds oxygen in red blood cells is called hemoglobin.

Your heart is a four chambered organ that pumps blood to two areas of your body at the same time; your lungs (pulmonary system) and the rest of the body (systemic circulation). In these four chambers, there are two Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґwaiting areasÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ for blood called atria and two pumping areas called ventricles. The pumping action of the heart is performed by a cardiac muscle. Your veins bring the deoxygenated blood back to the heart which has the oxygen removed from it by your muscles. The capillaries are another group of blood vessels that are very important. Their role in the circulatory system is to exchange and deliver all nutrients and oxygen to the bodiesÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ cells and to receive waste products. Capillaries also allow plasma to flow out to form tissue fluid surrounding your bodiesÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ cells. These cells need to be able to move freely around your body and this fluid allows them to do so.

To play sport you need energy. This can be delivered to your body by three energy systems; The ATP, Anaerobic and Aerobic energy systems. Aerobic respiration occurs when you are performing a long distance event where lots of oxygen is required, i.e. a marathon. ATP is used when you first begin to play sport for the first 20-30 seconds. The ATP that is being used is either stored ATP that has been made by earlier respiration or is found in glucose, glycogen and fats. ATP is needed by active muscles as it is their main energy source.

Aerobic respiration is the conversion of energy stored in glucose by its reaction with oxygen. This process