The microscopic images below show muscle cells at rest vs. muscle cells during exercise. The red circles are mitochondria. Using what you know about the function of this organelle, provide an explanation for the differences you observed.

Answer 1

Based on the provided microscopic images of muscle cells at rest vs. muscle cells during exercise, it can be observed that there are differences in the distribution or number of red circled mitochondria in the two scenarios. The mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles of the cell.

During exercise, the demand for energy increases as the muscles require more energy to contract and perform their function. This higher energy demand is met by an increased production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) within the cells. Mitochondria play a crucial role in ATP production through aerobic respiration, as they are responsible for the final steps of the cellular respiration process.

In the images of muscle cells during exercise, it is likely that an increased number of mitochondria can be observed. This increased mitochondrial density is an adaptive response of the muscle cells to meet the heightened energy requirement during exercise. The additional mitochondria provide more surfaces for ATP production, enabling the cells to generate ATP at a higher rate and meet the energy demands of the contracted muscles.

In contrast, the muscle cells at rest might show a lower number or less distribution of mitochondria. Since the energy demand is lower in resting conditions, the requirement for ATP production decreases. Consequently, the cells may have a reduced number of mitochondria compared to during exercise, as they do not need to generate ATP at the same rapid rate.

In summary, the differences observed in the distribution or number of mitochondria in muscle cells at rest vs. exercise can be attributed to the cells' adaptive response to meet the energy demands during different physiological states.