Exercise Physiology Sample MCQs Prof David Allen

1. Each crossbridge cycle involves

A) the cyclic attachment of tropomyosin and actin

B) the consumption of one ADP molecule

C) attachment of a single Ca2+ ion to a myosin crossbridge head

D) production of a small amount of force or of shortening.

2. ATP is the immediate source of energy within muscles. Which of the following is true of its
involvement in muscle contraction.

A) Oxygen supply is essential for regeneration of ATP

B) One molecule of ATP is consumed per crossbridge cycle

C) All the ATP in a muscle can easily be consumed in intense activity and the muscle then becomes
abnormally stiff

D) Because ATP is central to muscle activity, all diets should contain at least 100 g ATP / day

3. Muscle fatigue

A) is usually associated with large changes in metabolites within the muscle

B) is particularly prominent in slow muscle fibres

C) is paradoxically improved on the summit of Mt Everest

D) cannot be studied under laboratory conditions.

4. A typical fast fibre when compared to a slow fibre

A) has many more mitochondria

B.) tends to fatigue more rapidly

C) has myosin isozymes which possess a relatively low ATP-ase rate

D) has a red or dark colour.

5. Muscles contain glycogen as a store of readily available energy.

A) Glycogen is a complex mixture of carbohydrates, lipids and protein

B) Glycogen requires O2 (aerobic metabolism) for is use

C) The amount of glycogen stored in a muscle contributes to its endurance performance

D) Diets rich in carbohydrates, lipids and protein are required for synthesis of glycogen
Answers
1.

A. No. Myosin (heads) attach cyclically to actin.

B. No. One ATP molecule is consumed and one ADP molecule is produced per crossbridge cycle.

C. No. Ca2+ binds to troponin.

D. Yes

2.

A. No. ATP can be regenerated anaerobically by breakdown of PCr or glycogen.

B. Yes

C. No. All the ATP is never (normally) consumed because it is so rapidly regenerated.

D. No. You could add ATP to the diet but it would be hydrolysed in the gut. Even if it were absorbed
it would have to be transported into the cells to be of value.

3.

A. Yes. This is the basis of most theories of muscle fatigue.

B. No. Slow muscles are generally resistant to fatigue because they have many mitochondria.

C. No. Hypoxia, as found on the summit of Mt Everest, makes muscle fatigue much worse.

D. No. It is easily and effectively studied in the laboratory as in your practical class.

4.

A. No. It is slow fibres which have many mitochondria.

B. Yes.

C. No. Fast fibres have fast (high ATP-ase) myosin isoenzymes.

D. No. The dark colour comes from myoglobin which is concentrated in slow fibres (to store and
move O2).
5.

A. No. Glycogen is a poly-glucose and only contains carbohydrate.

B. No. Glycogen can be broken down aerobically or anaerobically.

C. Yes. As you would expect as it is a store of energy.

D. No. Diet rich in carbohydrate are needed to replenish glycogen.