Chapter 10 Discussion questions and answers

1) Why would a sprinter experience muscle fatigue before a marathon runner?

  • Sprinter’s muscles are prepared for speed and power using fast-twitch fibres. A marathon runner’s muscles are built for slow, long exercise using slow-twitch fibres.
  • Unlike marathon runners, sprinters use anaerobic metabolism.
  • Unlike marathon runners, sprinters’ muscles contain more glycogen stores.

2) How do bone cells coordinate their function to adjust the balance between bone formation and bone resorption?

  • Bone remodelling depends on the fine balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts, counter-balanced by laying down osteoid by osteoblasts.
  • Hormones, such as parathyroid hormone and oestrogen hormone, have a crucial role in the coordination process.
  • Bone architecture is adjusted according to physical demand and stress.

3) Explain why weight training contributes to bone density whereas swimming does not?

  • Bone strength is determined by bone mass and bone structure.
  • The force of muscles pulling against bones during weight-bearing exercise stimulates bone deposition.
    • Chapter 10 Discussion Q&As
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