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The liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body’s energy needs for ________. A.. one week B. one day C. two weeks D. ten days E. three days

User PGOnTheGo
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2 Answers

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Final answer:

The liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body's energy needs for one day before transitioning to other sources of fuel such as fatty acids and ketone bodies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The liver stores glycogen, which is a form of energy reserve carbohydrate in animals. When fasting, the body initially relies on glycogen reserves for glucose. The liver glycogen can sustain the body's energy needs for about one day. After glycogen is depleted, the body transitions to using fatty acids as the principal metabolic fuel for the next 2-3 days, followed by the generation of ketone bodies and eventually breaking down protein when fat stores are exhausted. Notably, glycogen metabolism includes processes such as glycogenesis and glycogenolysis.

So to answer the question, the liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body's energy needs for B. one day. After this period, the body must utilize other energy sources to maintain metabolic balance. It's important to understand that although muscle cells store more total glycogen, liver glycogen is crucial for maintaining blood glucose levels.

User Daniel Haughton
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3 votes

Final answer:

The liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body's energy needs for one day (Option B), after which the body starts to utilize other energy sources such as fatty acids.

Step-by-step explanation:

The liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body’s energy needs for a relatively short period. Glycogen serves as the primary storage form of glucose in the body, which is crucial for energy production. The liver and muscle cells store the most glycogen, with the liver supplying glucose to other cells and maintaining normal blood glucose levels, and muscle glycogen being available for glycolysis during vigorous exercise.

During fasting, glycogen reserves are typically drawn upon within the first day to maintain metabolic balance. After the exhaustion of glycogen reserves, the body will begin to utilize other sources such as fatty acids. If glycogen reserves were the only energy source available, they would be exhausted after several hours, and thus, are not sufficient to meet long-term energy demands. Considering this, the correct answer is that the liver can store enough glycogen to meet the body’s energy needs for one day (Option B).

User Henrik R
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