Bioenergetics (Human Biology IB)

Lesson Structure

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. Energy and Work
   • Explains how energy is used in the human body to create work and power
2. Energy Pathways
   • Looks at energy pathways during rest, work and recovery
3. The Acid-Base Balance
   • Explains the significance of the acid-base balance in the body
4. Osmosis & Diffusion
   • Explains movement of materials in and out of living cells
5. Atmospheric Pressure
   • Examines the affect of changing atmospheric pressure on the human body
6. Temperature Regulation
   • Centres on temperature regulation in the body
7. Ergogenic Aids to Performance
   • Examines ergogenic aids to body performance during activity/exercise

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.

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.

Credentials

ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.