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Muscle Fibers

Skeletal muscle is composed of two types of muscle fibers: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. Slow-twitch fibers use oxygen to generate energy for sustained, low-intensity activities like walking or swimming. They appear dark. Fast-twitch fibers can either use oxygen or rely on glucose for short bursts of intense activity like sprinting or weightlifting. Type IIA fibers use oxygen while Type IIB rely on glucose. Training can increase the proportion of fiber types used in an activity.

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Phyo Theinkha
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228 views23 pages

Muscle Fibers

Skeletal muscle is composed of two types of muscle fibers: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. Slow-twitch fibers use oxygen to generate energy for sustained, low-intensity activities like walking or swimming. They appear dark. Fast-twitch fibers can either use oxygen or rely on glucose for short bursts of intense activity like sprinting or weightlifting. Type IIA fibers use oxygen while Type IIB rely on glucose. Training can increase the proportion of fiber types used in an activity.

Uploaded by

Phyo Theinkha
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Secondary 5

Muscle Fibers (Part I)


Muscle Tissues
• Three types of muscle tissues
• Smooth muscle
• Cardiac muscle
• Skeletal muscle
Muscle Fibers
• Each of these types of muscle tissue has muscle
fibers.
• Skeletal muscle is made up of muscle fibers that
are tightly wrapped together by connective tissue.
• The muscle fiber contains smaller units made up of
repeating thick and thin filaments. This causes the
muscle tissue to be striated, or have a striped
appearance.
Skeletal muscle fibers
• Skeletal muscle fibers are classified into two types
• type 1
• type 2
• Type 2 is further broken down into subtypes.
Slow-twitch (Type I)
• These fibers utilize oxygen to generate energy for movement.
• Type 1 fibers have a higher density of energy-generating organelles called mitochondria.
• This makes them dark.
Fast-twitch (Type II A)
• Like type 1 fibers, type 2A fibers can also use oxygen to generate energy for movement.
• However, they contain less mitochondria, making them light. They are known as oxidative-glycolytic muscles
because they can use oxygen and glucose for energy.
• These fast twitch type 2A muscles have a higher number of mitochondria than the other type, type 2B.
• This makes them similar to slow twitch muscles in their ability to use oxygen along with glucose and fat to
burn for energy.
• And like slow-twitch muscles, type 2A fast-twitch muscles are not easily exhausted and can recover from a
short, intense workout relatively quickly.
Fast-twitch (Type II B)
• Type 2B fibers don’t use oxygen to generate energy.
• Instead, they store energy that can be used for short bursts of movement.
• They contain even less mitochondria than type 2A fibers and appear white.
• They are known as nonoxidative muscles because they don’t use any oxygen for energy.
• Instead, they rely on glucose to produce the energy needed for activity.
• They also have a much lower number of mitochondria because they don’t need them to produce energy from
oxygen like type I and type IIA muscles do.
• They are also much larger around than other muscles and become worn out much faster than the other types
of muscles despite their capacity for feats of strength.
• Most of the muscles in your body have more than one kind of muscle fiber.
• But some muscles have more slow-twitch fibers because they have to do the same job for a long time.
• For example, the muscles in the back of your lower legs and the muscles in your back are mostly made up of
slow-twitch fibers.
• This is because they have to help you stand and hold your posture for long periods of time.
• Fast-twitch fibers wouldn’t be able to do this because they can’t keep working for that long.
• Muscles that need speed rather than endurance will have more fast-twitch fibers.
• For example, the muscles in your eyelids that help you blink are all fast-twitch fibers
Differences between slow-twitch & fast-twitch
• Type 1 & type 2 muscle fibers
• Energy use
• Intensity & duration
• Blood vessels
• Oxygen needs
• Appearance
Type 1 & Type 2 muscle fibers
• Your body normally uses slow-twitch fibers to power muscles first.
• Fast-twitch muscle fibers are mainly only used when the body needs to make sudden, more powerful
movements.
Energy use

Slow-twitch muscles Fast-twitch muscles


• use energy slowly and fairly evenly to make it last • use up a lot of energy very quickly, then get tired
a long time. (fatigued) and need a break
• This helps them contract (work) for a long time,
without running out of power.
Intensity & Duration

Slow-twitch muscle fibers Fast-twitch muscle fibers


• Slow-twitch muscle fibers power low-intensity • In comparison, fast-twitch muscles fibers work
activities. when you need a big burst of energy.
• This is because they need a steady, even supply of
energy.
Blood Vessels

Slow-twitch Fast-twitch
• Muscles with more slow-twitch fibers have more • Fast-twitch muscle fibers don’t need as much blood
blood vessels. because they make their own quick source of
energy.
• This is because they need a good and constant
supply of blood and oxygen to let them work for a
long time without getting tired.
Oxygen needs

Slow-twitch Fast-twitch
• Slow-twitch muscle fibers use an aerobic energy • Fast-twitch muscles mainly run on an energy
system. system that doesn’t need oxygen.
• This means that they run on oxygen. • This is called an anaerobic energy system.
Appearance

Slow-twitch Fast-twitch
• The bigger blood supply in slow-twitch muscles • On the other hand, muscles that have more fast-
fibers can make them look redder or darker. twitch fibers look lighter because they have less
blood.
Types of activities that use slow-twitch fibers
• Your slow-twitch muscle fibers are working hard whenever you
are doing an activity or exercise that needs muscles to work —
or even stay still — for a long time.
• sitting up 
• standing 
• walking 
• slow jog 
• running a marathon 
• biking 
• swimming laps 
• rowing 
• many yoga positions 
• some pilates exercises 
Types of activities that use fast twitch muscles 

• Fast-twitch muscle fibers are working more if


you’re doing high impact activities like
• running 
• sprinting 
• jumping 
• boxing 
• skipping rope 
• lifting weights 
Can muscle fibers types change? 
• Most people are born with about the same amount of slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscles fibers in their
bodies.
• Some people may be born with more of one kind of muscle fiber, which might make them better at a certain
sport.
• For example, if you naturally have more slow-twitch muscles fibers, you might be better at long-distance
running.
• If you train hard enough at one sport, you may “change” the muscle fibers in your body.

• For example, if you are a marathon runner and train for a long time, some of your slow-twitch muscle fibers
will grow longer.

• This gives you long, leaner muscles.

• Similarly, if you lift weights or sprint a lot, your fast-twitch muscle fibers will grow bigger.

• This builds your muscles.


• Slow-twitch muscle fibers help you move (or stay still) longer.

• They need a rich blood supply because they use oxygen for energy.

• This is why slow-twitch muscle fibers are also called “red” muscles.

• Fast-twitch muscle fibers help you move when you need sudden and at times reflexive movements, like
hopping, sprinting, and blinking your eyes.

• Some muscles like those in your back have more slow-twitch fibers because they have to work tirelessly to
help you stand and sit up.

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