When atrophy occurs, what happens to the muscle?

When atrophy occurs, what happens to the muscle?

• A. The muscle slowly becomes stronger
• B. The muscle increases in size
• C. The muscle remains the same size
• D. The muscle decreases in size

Answer: (D)

Atrophy is when muscle tissue decreases in size due to reduced use or loss of nerve supply. When this happens, the muscle fibers shrink, leading to smaller muscle mass and weaker strength. This occurs because the body downregulates protein synthesis and increases protein breakdown in muscle fibers when they’re not being used, so the cross-sectional area of the muscle decreases. So the muscle decreases in size. The other ideas describe the opposite (hypertrophy) or no change, which aren’t what happens with atrophy.

Atrophy is when muscle tissue decreases in size due to reduced use or loss of nerve supply. When this happens, the muscle fibers shrink, leading to smaller muscle mass and weaker strength. This occurs because the body downregulates protein synthesis and increases protein breakdown in muscle fibers when they’re not being used, so the cross-sectional area of the muscle decreases. So the muscle decreases in size. The other ideas describe the opposite (hypertrophy) or no change, which aren’t what happens with atrophy.