Physiological Basis of the Sex Difference in Cardiorespiratory Endurance

Males have longer and larger skeletal structure than females, creating advantages in sports where levers influence force application, longer limb/digit length is favorable, and height, mass and proportions are directly responsible for performance capacity.

“longer and larger skeletal structure, which creates advantages in sports where levers influence force application, where longer limb/digit length is favorable, and where height, mass and proportions are directly responsible for performance capacity”

Males have larger and denser muscle mass, and stiffer connective tissue, with associated capacity to exert greater muscular force more rapidly and efficiently than females.

“Males have: larger and denser muscle mass, and stiffer connective tissue, with associated capacity to exert greater muscular force more rapidly and efficiently”

Males have reduced fat mass and different distribution of body fat and lean muscle mass compared with females, which increases power to weight ratios and upper to lower limb strength.

“reduced fat mass, and different distribution of body fat and lean muscle mass, which increases power to weight ratios and upper to lower limb strength in sports where this may be a crucial determinant of success”