Question

One disadvantage of studying muscle fatigue in vivo is that ________________.

a. None of these
b. these studies are not physiological
c. these studies often produce correlative data and it is difficult to identify mechanisms
d. these studies only allow the study of fatigue during endurance events

Answer 1

Studying muscle fatigue in vivo has the disadvantage of producing correlative data, making it difficult to identify specific mechanisms due to the complex interplay of physiological factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

One disadvantage of studying muscle fatigue in vivo is that these studies often produce correlative data and it is difficult to identify mechanisms. When examining muscle fatigue during actual exercise or normal daily activities, a range of factors, such as energy availability, lactic acid levels, and electrolyte balance, can interact in complex ways to influence fatigue. However, sorting out the specific contributions and mechanisms of these factors is challenging due to the interconnected nature of physiological processes.

Studying muscle fatigue in a living organism (in vivo) means that the observations are happening within a complex, integrated system where many variables are at play, making it hard to pin down causation. For instance, while a decrease in ATP or an increase in lactic acid buildup in the muscle may correlate with fatigue, it is not always clear how these conditions lead to the fatigue response, as other physiological and psychological factors might also play significant roles.