Question

Regina began an exercise program six months ago, and the muscles of her upper limbs and lower limbs are more prominent. Exercise can lead to formation of new muscle by

A. stimulating synthesis of myoglobin.
B. stimulating skeletal muscle cells to release IL-6, which stimulates satellite cells to divide, producing more muscle cells.
C. stimulating connective tissue to differentiate as muscle tissue.
D. stimulating motor neurons to divide and innervate more muscle cells.

Answer 1

Exercise leads to more prominent muscles mainly through the process of hypertrophy, the enlargement of existing muscle fibers. The formation of new muscle cells mainly occurs in muscle repair or in response to injury, not during standard exercise-induced muscle growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regina's more prominent muscles after starting an exercise program can be attributed primarily to hypertrophy, which is the increase in muscle mass due to the addition of structural proteins leading to an increased diameter of muscle fibers. This process does not involve the formation of new muscle cells but rather the enlargement of existing ones.

The formation of new muscle cells from satellite cells mainly occurs during muscle repair or in response to injury, and not in normal exercise-induced muscle growth. Answering the student's question, exercise can lead to formation of new muscle by: B. stimulating skeletal muscle cells to release IL-6, which stimulates satellite cells to divide, producing more muscle cells.

However, it is important to note that the primary way in which exercise leads to muscle prominence, as seen in Regina's case, is through hypertrophy, not the creation of new muscle cells.