Question

During the climb up a steep hill, which of the following muscle fiber designs will MOST LIKELY produce the greatest forces in the lower extremities?

A. Fusiform
B. Strap
C. Circular
D. Pennate

Answer 1

The pennate muscle fiber design will produce the greatest forces in the lower extremities during an uphill climb, due to its high density of muscle fibers allowing for a greater generation of tension.

Step-by-step explanation:

The muscle fiber design that will most likely produce the greatest forces in the lower extremities during the climb up a steep hill is D. Pennate. This is because pennate muscles have a unique structure where the fascicles blend into a central tendon, similar to the quill of a feather, allowing for a high density of muscle fibers. As a result, despite the fibers pulling at an angle and not moving the tendons very far, the pennate design can produce relatively more tension for its size compared to other muscle fiber designs like fusiform, strap, and circular.

A muscle with a pattern of fascicles running along the long axis of the muscle is described as having a parallel arrangement. In contrast, pennate muscles allow the fascicles to feed in on an angle to a long tendon, thereby enabling the generation of greater force.

Answer 2

The pennate muscle design can produce the greatest forces in the lower extremities during the steep hill climb due to its ability to house more fibers, leading to higher tension generation. Therefore, the correct option is D. Pennate.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the climb up a steep hill, the muscle fiber design that will most likely produce the greatest forces in the lower extremities is D. Pennate. Pennate muscles are characterized by their feather-like structure where the fibers blend into a central tendon, running through the muscle's entire length.

This unique arrangement allows a pennate muscle to house more muscle fibers compared to other types, such as fusiform, strap, or circular muscles, resulting in the capability to produce relatively more tension for its size. While they do not move their tendons very far during contraction, the increased number of fibers translates into greater force production, which is beneficial for activities that require high force generation like climbing a steep hill.