Say whether each feature belongs to the red fibres or to the white fibres of a skeletal muscle…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Say whether each feature belongs to the red fibres or to the white fibres of a skeletal muscle.
- A large amount of myoglobin.
- A pale colour.
- Plenty of mitochondria.
- A large amount of sarcoplasmic reticulum.
- ATP made mainly by anaerobic processes.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Repeated contraction makes lactic acid from the anaerobic breakdown of glycogen, and this causes fatigue. Red fibres have much myoglobin, plenty of mitochondria and work with oxygen. White fibres have little myoglobin, fewer mitochondria and much sarcoplasmic reticulum, and they depend on anaerobic breakdown.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Red fibres.
Step 2. (b) White fibres.
Step 3. (c) Red fibres.
Step 4. (d) White fibres.
Step 5. (e) White fibres.
Answer: (a) red; (b) white; (c) red; (d) white; (e) white.
Check. The red fibres are the aerobic muscles.
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