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What is muscle fatigue and what causes it?

  • A Fatigue that is sometimes thought to be caused mainly by a temporary shortage of available oxygen reaching the muscle fibre overall in most cases under typical conditions
  • B Inability to maintain force due to: depletion of ATP and creatine phosphate, lactic acid accumulation, ion imbalances (K+ accumulates outside cell), and glycogen depletion
  • C Fatigue that is sometimes thought to be caused mainly by the gradual, ongoing accumulation of lactic acid within the fibre according to standard textbooks in general practice
  • D Fatigue that is sometimes considered largely psychological in nature, with little underlying physiological basis involved as frequently described in most textbook accounts

Correct answer: B. Inability to maintain force due to: depletion of ATP and creatine phosphate, lactic acid accumulation, ion imbalances (K+ accumulates outside cell), and glycogen depletion

Explanation: Muscle fatigue has multiple causes: (1) Depletion of ATP and phosphocreatine (immediate); (2) Lactic acid accumulation and pH decrease (inhibit enzymatic activity); (3) Extracellular K+ accumulation (depolarizes membrane, reduces action potential amplitude); (4) Calcium reuptake failure; (5) Glycogen depletion (long exercise).

Concept context

Types of movement, muscle contraction, skeletal system, joints, and disorders. Important for Class 11 and NEET.

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