Physiology 101

Physiology, generally, is the science of living systems, like human beings. Physiology encompasses many things, from how your body works on the tennis court and after the tennis court, to what can go wrong because you are on the tennis court (or anything that you do prior to the tennis court). For junior tennis players, this information usually goes in one ear and out the other, similar to any kind of "ology" information.

But, unfortunately for you, I happen to be fascinated by this stuff, and feel like it is actually well-worth your time to go through the basics of tennis physiology, so don't doze off just yet!

To appease my list-making craving, I will arrange these facts, not in any importance order, but in an arrangement of certain organization nonetheless.

1. Welcome ATP. For science nerds, this is the molecule that is made out of three chains of phosphorus, or Adenosine Triphosphate. ATP, very simply speaking, is an energy blob that is made out of the food we eat. Food becomes glucose in our body (carbohydrates, specifically, which means pasta, ect.), which then, using mitochondria, the energy making blobs in our system, as well as oxygen, makes ATP molecules, which help us do cool stuff like breathe and walk around, or even more cool stuff like run a mile or hit a ball crosscourt.

For my fellow science nerds, here is the ATP molecule in molecular form. Notice to the left the three phosphates that make up the molecule. When one of those is taken away, ATP becomes ADP. Telepathically connect with your old biology textbook!

For those not interested in the slightest with the stick and letters above, ATP is the yellow blob above. He's very energized and excited to help you contract your muscles and play tennis.

2. ATP breaks down to ADP during an energy making process, where the extra phosphate in ATP acts as the physical energy we use to constrict and contract our muscles during exercise. The closest analogy for ATP and ADP would be fueling a car. The fuel, or ATP, is added to the car to help it drive, and the burning of the fuel by the engine of the car, aka our body's energy making system, allows us to move the metallic vehicle. I know, fascinating stuff, right!

3. There are different types of energy making processes in our body, some using different types of foods, from carbohydrates to proteins, some using oxygen, some not using oxygen, and some that are kick-started by a sudden need for energy, like running away from someone about to slap you with a towel, and some slowly revved up by a slow, but long, jog. Glycolysis is one of these processes, and forms ATP molecules (or blobs, if you so wish) in the aerobic metabolism of carbohydrates (aerobic, really, is using oxygen to break down carbohydrates, and is why, partially, you breathe heavier when your exercising, because you need more oxygen to create more ATP!). Here is the real kicker thought; in this process, lactate is produced as a by-product. Lactic acid thus builds up in the muscle working, and ta-da! You're sore! The less your body is used to exercise, the less efficient the ATP production is, thus why people tired out quicker when they are less endurant and why they feel more sore when they are not fit. The ATP production is to blame!

4. When your body no longer has enough oxygen to create ATP but still needs to, the process become anaerobic. This is what happens when you do workouts like ladder drills, circuit training, and wind sprints. 

I know, pretty cool stuff, right? When you're running on the court next time, you'll realize that the yellow blob, or ATP molecule, is working hard for you as you contract your muscles to hit each and every ball, and will realize that your body is a well-oiled machine that you have just only begun to explore. Stay tuned!