Final answer:
It is true that the oxygen needed to repay the oxygen debt includes the amount necessary for muscle cells to resynthesize ATP. This process is crucial to restoring ATP levels, converting lactic acid to pyruvic acid, and maintaining muscle function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the amount of oxygen needed to repay the oxygen debt includes the amount of oxygen that muscle cells need to resynthesize ATP is True. During and after intense muscle activity, an oxygen debt is created. This debt represents the amount of oxygen required to restore the ATP and creatine phosphate levels, convert lactic acid back to pyruvic acid, as well as resynthesize glucose from lactic acid in the liver.
Cellular respiration in the presence of oxygen, which primarily occurs in the mitochondria, produces substantially more ATP than anaerobic glycolysis, which can occur without oxygen but leads to the accumulation of lactic acid in muscles. Therefore, repaying the oxygen debt ensures that muscles can recover and continue to function efficiently by replenishing ATP reserves through oxidative metabolism.