Bioenergetics (Human Biology IB)

Lacking energy? Discover the secrets of where energy comes from, how it affects our bodies and how this relates to movement and the fields of nutrition, sports management and health.

Course Code: BSC201
Fee Code: S1
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Help People Manage their Energy Levels Better

 
Everyone wants to do more than ever before with their day, but so many struggle to find the time.  If you understand bioenergetics, you have a foundation for understanding how to better manage energy levels.
 
This unique course offers you the opportunity to discover the secrets of how energy affects our body, how it is possible to manage people's energy, metabolism, where energy comes from and what affects our energy levels.
 
What are the factors that makes us move better? By understanding these factors you can better manage people's capacity to move, and to manage optimum levels of energy within their body and improve your understanding and capacity within the fields of nutrition, sports management and health.
 
This course can help you in a number of careers including fitness, exercise science and health science.
 
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of body systems (e.g. Human Anatomy and Physiology).

Lesson Structure

There are 7 lessons in this course:

  1. Energy and Work
    • Anaerobic energy supply
    • Phosphate energy
    • Lactic acid energy
    • Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
    • Aerobic energy supply
    • Energy requirements for different types of activity
    • Breathing during exercise
    • ATP movement
    • ATP sources
    • ATP-PC system
    • Lactic acid system
    • Oxygen system
    • Aerobic systems
    • Krebs cycle
  2. Energy Pathways
    • What is energy
    • The nature of energy
    • Units of measurement
    • Production and storage of energy
    • Carbohydrates in an animal or human body
    • Glycogenesis
    • Glycogenolysis
    • Gluconeogenesis
    • Hyperglycaemia
    • Carbohydrate oxidation
    • Glycolysis
    • Hydrolysis
    • Hydrolysis of metal salts
    • Hydrolysis of an ester link
    • Energy production pathways from different foods: fats, carbohydrates, proteins
    • Respiratory quotient
    • Resting quotient
    • Aerobic capacity
    • What happens during exercise
    • Recovery from exercise: alactacid and lactacid oxygen debt, Replenishing muscular glycogen
    • Lactic acid
    • Calculations
  3. The Acid-Base Balance
    • pH
    • What is acidity
    • The urinary system: Kidneys, ureters, bladder
    • Physiology of the Urinary system
    • The urea cycle
  4. Osmosis and Diffusion
    • Diffusion explained and examples given
    • Nature and types of diffusion
    • Movement of molecules through cell membranes
    • Endocytosis
    • Membranes and their structure
    • Osmosis
    • Osmosis and filtration
    • Membrane transport: simple passive, active and facilitated transport
    • Chemical potential
    • Osmotic pressure
    • Reverse osmosis
  5. Atmospheric Pressure
    • Altitudes
    • Introduction to atmospheric pressure
    • Partial pressure gradients
    • Effects of change in pressure
    • Equalising when diving
    • Gas solubility
    • Breathing at different atmospheric pressures
    • Calculations
  6. Temperature Regulation
    • Introduction
    • Effect of temperature changes on the human body
    • Conduction and convection
    • Lowering temperature: sweating, vasodilation, metabolic reduction, hair, behaviour
    • Raising temperature
    • Vasoconstriction
    • Increased metabolism
    • Behaviour
    • Effect of temperature on enzymes
    • Eccrine glands
    • Apocrine glands
    • Energy production
    • Factors affecting individual BMR: growth, body size, food, thyroid gland
    • Fever: mechanism of fever, shivering, other temperature disorders
    • Grades of fever
    • Signs of fever
  7. Ergogenic Aids to Performance
    • Introduction
    • Drugs: steroids, amphetamines
    • Oxygen
    • Vitamins
    • Water
    • Other foods: carbohydrates, protein
    • Creatine
    • Caffeine
    • Antioxidants

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Explain how energy is used in the human body to create work and power.
  • Explain energy pathways during resting, work and recovery.
  • Explain the significance of the acid-base balance in the body.
  • Explain movement of materials in and out of living cells.
  • Explain the affect of changing atmospheric pressure on the body.
  • Explain temperature regulation in the body.
  • Explain ergogenic aids to body performance during activity/exercise.

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

Here are just some of the things you may be doing:

  • Explain biological energy cycles, using illustrations where appropriate.
  • Explain two examples of energy pathways in the body, including an anaerobic and an aerobic pathway.
  • Explain the function of ATP in body energy pathways.
  • Explain the significance of the following terms to understanding body energy pathways:
    • energy
    • work
    • power
    • efficiency during exercise
  • Explain the consumption of oxygen during different stages of activity, including:
    • at rest
    • warming up
    • peak activity
    • cooling down
  • Calculate the net cost of exercise in litres per minute, for a set situation.
  • Explain the measurement of efficiency during the exercise carried out in a set task.
  • Explain problems which may occur in physiological processes during running a marathon.
  • Explain in one paragraph for each, the following acid-base terms with relevance to exercise:
    • Buffer
    • Alkali reserve
    • Alkalosis
    • Acidosis
  • Describe respiratory regulation of pH in the human body.
  • Describe how regulation of pH occurs in the kidneys.
  • Explain the affect of strenuous exercise on body pH.
  • Explain osmosis in a specific biological situation (of your choice).
  • Distinguish between diffusion and facilitated diffusion in the human body.
  • Explain how electrochemical forces maintain cellular equilibrium.
  • Explain how active transport mechanisms occur at a cellular level.
  • Describe three situations where pressure changes can affect body function, including:
    • scuba diving
    • mountain climbing
  • Explain the effects of pressure changes on different parts of the body, including examples of changes due to altitude and scuba diving.
  • Explain the effect of a decompression treatment on a diver suffering from nitrogen narcosis.
  • List mechanisms of heat loss in the human body.
  • List mechanisms of heat gain in the human body.
  • Explain the operation of thermal receptors and effectors in the human body.
  • Describe the exercise session which you underwent in your set task, and explain the maintenance of body temperature during that exercise session.
  • Explain how temperature regulation may be different during peak exercise, to what it may be during exercise at 60-70% effort.
  • Explain the affects of steroids on the body, in relation to both performance, and other health factors, during two different types of activity.
  • Explain the affect of amphetamines, and other performance enhancing drugs on the body, during an activity of your choice.
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of amino acid use to enhance physical activity.
  • Explain the use of blood doping to enhance physical performance in a specific activity.
  • Explain ways oxygen can be used to enhance performance in a specific activity.
  • Explain the effect of different vitamins on three different types of performance.
  • Explain the affect of aspartic acid salts on a specific performance.
 
 

How Much Energy Do You Need?

Different types of physical activities utilise energy in different ways, sometimes intense, sometimes at a lower level; sometimes for short bursts with rests in between, and at other times for prolonged periods. High energy phosphates (for example ATP and CP - Creatine Phosphate), are the main source of energy for intense bursts of activity lasting up to only 10 seconds. Glycogen provides the main source of energy in intense activity, following the first 10 seconds, for a further 50 seconds approximately.

Prolonged but Not Intense Activity
When activity is not very intense, it can be continued for an extended period, with the rate of energy release in muscles being maintained by oxidation through deeper than normal breathing. This provides increased quantities of ATP. The ability to sustain such an elevated aerobic metabolism is dependent upon cardio respiratory endurance. An example of this is the fitness of the heart lung system, and its ability to work at higher than normal levels.

Prolonged Mild to Medium Activity
When the intensity of exercise rises above what can be supplied by deep breathing and oxidation, but it is not particularly intense; the fat may be utilised to fuel movement.
Long distance runners, triathletes, iron men, bike marathon riders, etc. will rely heavily on fat as an energy source during competition.

Prolonged Intense Activity
For prolonged intense activity such as a 1 hour squash match or exercise to music class glycogen is the preferred energy source.

Short Bursts of Intense Activity
For some sports such as cricket, rugby, tennis or boxing, an extreme effort is required for a short burst, followed by a rest period. Such activity relies on continual breaking down and restoring anaerobic energy sources.
 

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

  • Fitness, health or sports professionals
  • Support staff in any of these industries
  • Marketing, media or education professionals who are communicating aspects of human energy management in their work
  • Students
  • Anyone with a passion or need to better understand the workings of the human body.

 

ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.
ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
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We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
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You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

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If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

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We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

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We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

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Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
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You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

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We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Karen Lee

Nutritional Scientist, Dietician, Teacher and Author.
BSc. Hons. (Biological Sciences), Postgraduate Diploma Nutrition and Dietetics.
Registered dietitian in the UK, with over 15 years working in the NHS. Karen has undertaken a number of research projects and has lectured to undergraduate university students. Has co authored two books on nutrition and several other books in health sciences.

Tracey Jones (Psychologist)

B.Sc. (Psych), M.Soc.Sc., Dip.Social Work, P.G.Dip Learning Disability, Cert Editing, Cert Creative Writing, PGCE.
Member British Psychological Society, Member Assoc. for Coaching, Member British Learning Assoc.
25 years industry experience in writing, editing, education, psychology, and business. Tracey has several books and hundreds of articles published; in both fiction and non fiction.

Lyn Quirk

M.Prof.Ed.; Adv.Dip.Compl.Med (Naturopathy); Adv.Dip.Sports Therapy
Over 30 years as Health Club Manager, Fitness Professional, Teacher, Coach and Business manager in health, fitness and leisure industries. As business owner and former department head for TAFE, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role as a tutor for ACS.

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