Final answer:
Muscle wasting is typically referred to as atrophy, which is the decrease in muscle mass due to various diseases or conditions like cancer, AIDS, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as a natural part of aging called sarcopenia. Exercise can mitigate some forms of atrophy and is beneficial for maintaining muscle mass and strength.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscle wasting is the common term for atrophy. Muscle atrophy refers to the decrease in muscle mass and can be triggered by various conditions and diseases. For instance, cancer and AIDS might lead to a wasting syndrome known as cachexia, causing significant skeletal muscle atrophy. Additionally, muscle atrophy also occurs naturally with age, a condition termed sarcopenia which is characterized by a gradual decline in skeletal muscle mass. While sarcopenia is largely irreversible, disuse-related muscle atrophy can potentially be reversed through exercise, which can increase muscle mass and strength by inducing structural and cellular changes in muscle tissue.
Diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) also contribute to muscle wasting. DMD leads to progressive skeletal muscle weakness due to a lack of dystrophin, causing damage to muscle cells over time. To prevent or delay the effects of muscle atrophy, especially in cases of aging, regular exercise is advised. Exercise helps in the production of cellular mitochondria, increases capillary density, and can improve the mass and strength of connective tissue, offsetting some effects of atrophy.