Question

Would you expect to find more or less mitochondria in muscle cells compared to a standard cell?

a) More mitochondria
b) Less mitochondria
c) Same number of mitochondria
d) Mitochondria are absent in muscle cells

Answer 1

Muscle cells contain more mitochondria than standard cells due to their high energy demands for contraction. Slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers have a higher mitochondria count than fast-twitch fibers, supporting sustained, endurance activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

You would expect to find more mitochondria in muscle cells compared to a standard cell. The function of mitochondria in muscle cells is to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is essential for muscle contraction and hence, a high energy demand. Muscle cells, especially those in athletes like marathon runners, have a very high concentration of mitochondria. In terms of which type of muscle fiber has more mitochondria, slow-twitch muscle fibers contain more mitochondria than fast-twitch fibers. Fast-twitch and slow-twitch are types of skeletal muscle fibers. Sperm cells and muscle cells have lots of mitochondria because they both require significant amounts of energy.