Unit -111

Definition of physiology and exercise physiology

Term physiology was derived from the Greek word ` Physiologikos̛ ̀meaning
discourse on natural knowledge. Physiology is the study of body function. Physiology study how
the body organ systems, tissues, cells, and molecules with in cells work and how their functions
are integrated to regulate the body internal environment a process called homeostasis.

Exercise physiology is the scientific study of physiological changes in

athlete’s body with the effects of exercise whether long term or short term. In other words
Exercise physiology is the study of how the body functions are altered when we are exposed to
exercise, a challenge to homeostasis.

Role of exercise physiology in the field of physical education and sport

a) Practical implementation of knowledge
The knowledge required in the four wall of the class room through the medium
of instruction from the experts should complete and significant only when applied
practically on the sports field. The experts in the area must watch the public and develop
health and fitness awareness among people of old ages, especially the inactive and those
suffering from health diseases.
b) Self conduct of sports programmes
While dealing with children in schools the concept of exercise physiology forms
an important part in the curriculum of physical education and sports. The study of
exercise physiology assists professionals with the required knowledge when it comes to
the planning of exercise training program for children of different age, sex, fitness level
etc.
c) Implementation of scientifically designed training programme
It is advised that a common man should take the help of professionally qualified
persons in order to obtain faithful result than full play to non-professional. The
knowledge of exercise physiology helps in considering various essential factors that fall
the training exercise programme there by constructing a systematic programme based on
scientific facts.
It is essential to consider the following aspects to training and implementation of the
training or exercise programme.
a) Individual difference (age, sex, fitness level etc)
b) Factors of load
c) Progression of load
d) Training specifically
 e) Environmental factors
f) Nutritional factors

d) Promotion and advancement in scientific research

In many times athletes and sports teams across adverse situations of

physiology bearing that affect performance on such occasions it is advised to take the
evidence of a specialised in the field concerned. Thus the exercise physiology help must
be sought to field appropriate solutions concerning performance. The exercise
physiologist will able to provide solutions either out of the literature available or ensure
in research and if solution is not available at hand. Thus numerous unsolved problems
relating to performance in competitive sports involve scientists to undertake the research
project for further advancement of the subject.

e) Improvement in standards of professional groups

The participation in sports and physical activity has attracted individuals

from all walk of life either to exceed in competitive sports or to maintain sound health.
Health and fitness consciousness increased among aged population of today. Sports and
physical activity has become an important means to require sound of health. This has lead
the professional group to get updated with latest knowledge in the field of exercise
physiology. The important among the student of professional group can help different
categories of individuals in developing optimum fitness.

f) Larger opportunities

With increasing awareness about the health and fitness among student the
masses, greater awareness of occupation have arisen. Today individuals has become
highly concourse about their health .This evident from the fact that move and more
individual are participating in physical activity and exercise in the morning and evening
hours.
 Muscle tissue attached to bones is referred to as skeletal muscle tissue. A
typical vertebrate skeletal muscle consists of a main central bulging region called the belly. Its
two ends are tapering and are attached to the bones by means of tendons which are bundles of
collagen fibres. During muscle contraction one of these ends remains relatively fixed in position
and is called the origin of the muscle. The other end moves during contraction and is called the
region of insertion of the muscle.
 Muscle is covered in a layer of connective muscle tissue known as the
Epimysium. The epimysium protects the muscle from friction against other muscles and bones.
Each skeletal muscle is made up of a few bundles of muscle tissue. These bundles are separated
from each other by connective tissues. Each such bundle is made up of smaller bundles of
muscles tissue called fascicles. Each fascicles is covered by connective tissue called
perimysium and it is made up of numerous muscle cells called muscle fibres. Each individual
muscle fibres is covered by a connective tissue called endomysium .Each muscle fibre is
cylindrical in shape. It has a diameter ranging from 10 to 100 and many reach a length of about
30cm.They show characteristic transverse striations in the form of alternate dark and light
bands. The plasma membrane of the muscle fibre is called sarcolemma. It encloses the
cytoplasm referred to as sarcoplasm. Within the sarcoplasm just below the sarcolemma lie
numerous nuclei.

Muscle fibre is made up of numerous fibrils called myofibrils. They run

longitudinally through the muscle and occupy most of its space. They are the contractile
elements of the muscle fibre. It is these myofibrils that bear the transverse striations. So this
myofibril in muscle fibre appears dark and light striations. The dark band is called A bands
(anisotropic bands) and the light band are called the I bands (isotropic bands).Since these
bands alternate the A bands is bound on either side of I bands. In the centre of A bands is a
lighter zone called H-zone. A darker coloured zone called the Z- zone or Z-line is seen in the
centre of the I band. The region of the myofibril extending from one Z line to another is called a
sarcomere. Thus each myofibril is made up of numerous sarcomeres. It is the functional unit of
a muscle fibre.

The each myofibril is seen to be made up of numerous longitudinally

arranged filaments called myo-filaments. They are of two kinds. The thicker ones are called the
thick myofilaments or myosin filments. They are made up of a protein called myosin. On these
myosin filaments are present small spirally arranged projection called cross bridges. The
thinner filaments are called the actin filaments. The actin filaments are more in number than the
myosin filaments. They bear numerous active sites on them to which cross bridges attach during
muscle contraction.

Sorrounding the myofibril there is a network of tubules and channels called

the sarcoplasmic recticulum (SR).SR stores calcium when muscles not contracting, when
stimulated calcium released into saroplasm which is important in muscle contraction. The
smooth endoplasmic reticulum is made up of longitudinal and transverse tubules called T-
tubule system. Transverse tubules pass in warred from the sarcolemma throughout the
myofibril, through which nerve impulses travel. At one point a transverse tubules comes together
with two parts of sarcoplasmic reticulum to form a triad
 Function of muscle
The following are the important functions of muscle system

Motion

The muscles combine with the skeleton and provide the motion. We know that the main
framework of the body is covered by muscles and permits movement. In the principle of physics,
Levers are used to move or lift a load against another force .We also adapts the same principle in
our musculoskeletal system. Depending upon the position of fulcrum, effort and resistive force,
the lever may be classified into three classes. Most of the limbs of the human body are
articulated by third class lever. Each of the movement of the muscle for various parts of the body
is also described in various terms.

Heat production

Heat is produced by the contraction of muscles. As much as 70% of the body heat is
produced by the metabolism of energy in muscle tissues. During exercise, blood is an essential
element in the control of the body temperature. When the body is overheating during physical
exercise, Blood take the heat from the working muscle and redirects it to the skin. In contrary
when the internal heat of the body reaches too low a level thermo receptors in the skin relay a
massage to the hypothalamus in the brain. In response to this signal, the skeletal muscle contract
and relax in involuntary manner (shivering) increasing muscle activity to generate heat. Muscles
are responsive to external environmental conditions. Cold air increases muscle tone. Hot
conditions have a relaxing effect on muscles.

Maintenance of posture

Apart from enabling movement, muscles also maintain poster and body position. Sensory
receptors in the muscles monitor the tension and length of the muscles and provide the nervous
system with crucial information about the position of the body parts, therefore enabling posture
to be maintained. Muscles are never completely at rest, nor do they actually have to shorten in
length, when they contract. The tension or tone produced as a result of these contractions
between various opposing groups of muscle helps us to remain in a static position, even when we
are asleep.

Store house of energy

Muscle contraction requires energy and this is supplied by ATP molecules.ATP

molecules are synthesised by the energy released during the breakdown of glycogen in the
muscle fibre. Unlike most other cells of the body, the muscle fibre alternate between great
activity and virtual inactivity. When the muscle fibres are exercising strenuously a large amount
of ATP is required, and it is required at a faster rate than it can be produced. So in the resting
condition muscle fibre stores as much energy as possible.

Protects the internal organs

. Communication (VERBAL AND FACIAL)

. Heart beat

. Respiration
 Muscle types

In the body, there are three types of muscle: skeletal (striated), smooth, and cardiac.

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle, attached to bones, is responsible for skeletal movements. The peripheral
portion of the central nervous system (CNS) controls the skeletal muscles. Thus, these muscles
are under conscious, or voluntary, control. The basic unit is the muscle fiber with many nuclei.
These muscle fibers are striated (having transverse streaks) and each acts independently of
neighboring muscle fibers.

Smooth Muscle

Smooth muscle, found in the walls of the hollow internal organs such as blood vessels,
the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, and uterus, is under control of the autonomic nervous system.
Smooth muscle cannot be controlled consciously and thus acts involuntarily. The non-striated
(smooth) muscle cell is spindle-shaped and has one central nucleus. Smooth muscle contracts
slowly and rhythmically.

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle, found in the walls of the heart, is also under control of the autonomic
nervous system. The cardiac muscle cell has one central nucleus, like smooth muscle, but it also
is striated, like skeletal muscle. The cardiac muscle cell is rectangular in shape. The contraction
of cardiac muscle is involuntary, strong, and rhythmical.
 Properties of skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle possesses four essential properties:

 Excitability: this refers to muscle tissue being able to react to nervous stimulation.
 Extensibility: this refers to the ability of muscle tissue to lengthen when contracting and
provide the effort required to move the lever system (the bones and joints), producing
coordinated movement.
 Elasticity: this refers to the ability of muscle tissue to return to its normal resting length
once it has been stretched. A useful analogy is that of an elastic band, that will always
resume its resting shape after it has been stretched. This property enables the muscle to
prepare for a series of repeated contractions, which is normally required when performing
exercise or sport.
 Contractility: this refers to the capacity of a muscle to contract or shorten forcibly when
stimulated by nerves and hormones (excitability).

All these properties are essential for all body actions including movement and posture.

Nerve control of muscular activity

 Although the peripheral nervous system controls muscle activation, each muscle type is
control by a different mechanism. Skeletal muscle is controlled by the somatic nervous system
(SNS). It is considered voluntary muscle since it is under our conscious control. Contraction of
cardiac muscle is primarily controlled by an internal pacemaker, and the autonomic nervous
system (ANS). It is considered an involuntary muscle control, since it is not under our conscious
control. Smooth muscle, such as in the digestive system, is also controlled by the autonomic
nervous system. Like heart muscle, it is not under our conscious control.

The SNS is responsible for controlling voluntary body movements, such as movement of the
arms and legs. It is also responsible for receiving sensory information such as touch, hearing, and
sight. The SNS contains neurons that connected with the skeletal muscles, skin, and sense
organs. Neurons that control skeletal muscle and organs are called motor neurons. The SNS
carries nerve impulses from the brain to the muscle to be moved. Neurons used to receive
sensory information are called sensory neurons. A stimulus, such as touch or sound, is converted
to an electrical signal by a sensory receptor and transmitted to a sensory neuron. The sensory
neuron carries electrical impulses back to the CNS and the brain.

Controlling body movement often involves a complex interaction between sensory neurons, the
brain, and motor neurons. For example, what is involved in catching a ball? You see the ball
coming towards you. You also see and feel the position of your arms and hands. As your brain
sends signals to move the arms and hands, it also receives sensory information feedback. As the
ball gets closer, the brain uses visual information about the ball, and sensory information about
your body position, to move your arms and hands to the correct position. As the ball hits your
hands, your brain signals your hands and fingers to close around the ball. You are not born with
this ability. It must be learned through stages of motor development as you grow from bady to
child and adult