If you run as fast as you can, your muscles may begin to feel weak and have a burning sensation. Explain what is occurring in your muscle cells that account for this muscle fatigue.

Question

a
inadequate supply of oxygen to muscle cells leads to lactic acid fermentation
b
excessive supply of oxygen to muscle cells leads to mitochondrial autolysis
c
inadequate supply of glucose to muscle cells leads to alcohol fermentation
d
excessive supply of ATP to muscle cells leads to hypertonic conditions

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

a inadequate supply of oxygen to muscle cells leads to lactic acid fermentation.

When you run as fast as you can, your muscles require a lot more energy than normal. During intense exercise, the demand for oxygen can exceed the supply available to the muscle cells. As a result, the cells shift from aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen to produce energy, to anaerobic respiration (lactic acid fermentation) to generate ATP in the absence of sufficient oxygen. This process produces lactic acid as a byproduct, which accumulates in the muscles and contributes to the burning sensation and fatigue experienced during intense physical activity.