Final answer:
The total number of chromosomes present during metaphase I of meiosis in human cells is 46, as homologous chromosome pairs line up at the metaphase plate without having undergone any division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total number of chromosomes present in a cell during metaphase I of meiosis depends on the organism's number of homologous chromosome pairs. In humans, each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, or 46 chromosomes in total. During metaphase I of meiosis, these chromosomes are arranged as 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes (each pair consisting of one chromosome from the mother and one from the father) at the metaphase plate. Therefore, the total number of chromosomes present during metaphase I is 46, as no division has yet occurred to reduce the number. This maintains the diploid number of chromosomes in the cell until the end of meiosis I, which will result in haploid cells.