Question

Prolonged or repeated maximal contraction results in a concomitant increase in the synthesis of contractile proteins and an increase in muscle mass. This increase in mass, or hypertrophy, is observed at the level of individual muscle fibers. What is the answer?

1) Decrease in muscle mass
2) Increase in muscle mass
3) No change in muscle mass
4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

Prolonged or repeated maximal muscle contraction leads to an increase in muscle mass, known as hypertrophy, due to the addition of structural proteins to muscle fibers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is 2) Increase in muscle mass. Prolonged or repeated maximal contraction stimulates the synthesis of contractile proteins and leads to hypertrophy, which is the increase in muscle mass observed at the level of individual muscle fibers. This hypertrophy is a consequence of the addition of structural proteins to muscle fibers, resulting in their growth in size. Resistance training, in particular, causes hypertrophy by increasing myofibrils and sarcomeres within muscle fibers, without a significant increase in mitochondria or capillary density, but with an increase in the development of connective tissue, which contributes to the overall muscle mass.