Over Time, How Do Skeletal Muscle Cells Respond to Regular

Question

Over time, how do skeletal muscle cells respond to regular weight-lifting exercise?
A) They get larger, making the overall muscle bigger.
B) They multiply, making the overall muscle bigger.
C) They are able to contract for longer periods of time.
D) They contain more actin and less myosin.

Accepted Answer

With regular weight-lifting, skeletal muscle cells undergo hypertrophy, which means they increase in size. The overall muscle gets bigger as a result.

Answer: B is incorrect because it is not typical for muscle cells to multiply significantly in response to exercise.

Answer: C is partially correct because skeletal muscle cells are able to contract for longer periods of time due to increased endurance, but this is primarily due to improvements in the cardiovascular system and mitochondrial density, rather than changes in the muscle cells themselves.

Answer: D is incorrect because muscle cells do not typically contain more actin and less myosin in response to exercise.