Final answer:
During anaerobic cell metabolism, short-term muscle fatigue can be caused by lactic acid accumulation increasing muscle acidity, depletion of sodium in muscle cells, and the slow breakdown of glucose to resupply ATP.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscle fatigue occurs when the muscle can no longer contract in response to signals from the nervous system. Several factors contribute to muscle fatigue during anaerobic cell metabolism. One of these factors is the accumulation of lactic acid, which increases the acidity of the muscle. Additionally, the depletion of sodium in muscle cells and the slow and cumbersome process of anaerobic breakdown of glucose to resupply ATP can also contribute to short-term muscle fatigue.