[Energy yield during physical exertion].

Every energy demanding process in the skeletal muscle is associated with the use of adenosinetriphosphate, the essential muscular high-energy phosphate. ATP is rephosphorylated by ADP (= adenosine diphosphate) and this process depends on the type, intensity and duration of the physical exercise. At the beginning of a vigorous physical exercise utilization of intramuscular ATP and phosphocreatine is predominant (= anaerobic-alactacide energy yielding). Then the ATP rephosphorylation based on the conversion of glycogen and glucose to lactate, especially by an exercise duration till 2 min (= anaerobic-alactacide energy yielding). Toward this duration or if the exertion intensity at start has been below 60 to 70% of maximal physical performance, ADP is rephosphorylated during oxidative phosphorylation by the skeletal muscle mitochondria using glycogen, glucose or free fatty acids as energy fuel. Training, age and sex may influence anaerobic and aerobic energy-yielding as well as metabolism and ultrastructure of skeletal muscle.