The Chemistry of Weight Lifting

Weightlifting involves the body’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments.Adrenaline is released within the body when the stress of weightlifting reaches the brain, or to be specific the medulla. In the same instance the body releases calcium to open up myosin binding sites, the calcium is returned to the the sarcoplasmic reticulum, where it began this process. The myosin group together creating muscle mass.

Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components

• serotonin-C10H12N2O]
• Calcium-Ca
• Adrenaline-C9H13NO3

Serotonin is a stress relieving hormone released during weightlifting, bringing stress levels down. Calcium is a component in the muscle building process. Adrenaline makes the body ready to take on lifting heavy weights.

Chemistry's Role

Chemistry is involved by

muscles release calcium when tired, weakening contractions.

once muscles are damaged the body tries to repair them. Satellite cells work on the fibers.

Satellite cells add to myofibrils, which then increase them in thickness and number this adds muscle fibers.

Weightlifting helps with depression with the serotonin being released during lifting.

Background Research

Muscles contract and extend during lifting, causing the muscles to become tired. The muscles then send a response for the brain to release satellite cells. The satellite cells work on the muscle fibers, thus adding to the myofibrils. Increasing the thickness and size of the muscle, making one stronger.

Resources

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/muscle-hypertrophy-physiology-how-to-lift-weights-maximize-mass.htm

muscle growth also known as muscle hypertrophy.

occurs primarily through high intensity resistance activity and chronic anaerobic workout

muscle strength and endurance come from neural adaptations during resistance training

Sex and age affect hypertrophy

http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/dfrankl/CURR/kin150/Web/Ch04_Vargas.pdf

lifting increases myofibrils-increases fiber size-hypertrophy

motor unit is composed up of a nerve connected to a number of muscle fibers-directs coordination of single muscle

Number of motor units depends on amount of force applied

All fibers or no fibers will contract when contracting.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/548496-long-term-effects-of-weight-lifting/

Weight lifting long term effects: increased strength, increased muscle mass, improved coordination,

http://www.livestrong.com/article/206294-how-is-muscle-anatomy-built-when-weightlifting/

sarcomeres reside is myofibrils. Sarcomeres are made up of bands that pull tissue in a muscle contraction

Lifting causes acute trauma to the muscles.

muscles release calcium when tired, weakening contractions.

once muscles are damaged the body tries to repair them. Satellite cells work on the fibers.

Satellite cells add to myofibrils, which then increase them in thickness and number this adds muscle fibers.

Genetics are a factor in muscle growth, as well as sex and age

the body can not make 8 proteins that are for muscle growth, we consume these proteins

http://www.myosynthesis.com/cns-handle-stress

central nervous system

http://www.livestrong.com/article/549800-long-term-effects-of-weightlifting-on-the-brain/

cerebral blood flow velocity induced arterial pressure within the brain up to 450/380 mmHg

catastrophic brain injuries such as stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage and retinal detachment have been associated with weightlifting.

Weightlifting helps with depression with the serotonin being released during lifting

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