Both skeletal myocytes (muscle cells) and erythrocytes (red blood cells) break d

Question

Both skeletal myocytes (muscle cells) and erythrocytes (red blood cells) break down glucose via the glycolysis pathway in order to extract energy. Beyond that, their metabolisms are very different. Which of the following statements about the energy demands of skeletal myocytes and erythrocytes best summarizes the differences in their metabolism?

Both skeletal myocytes (muscle cells) and erythrocytes (red blood cells) break down glucose via the glycolysis pathway in order to extract energy. Beyond that, their metabolisms are very different. Which of the following statements about the energy demands of skeletal myocytes and erythrocytes best summarizes the differences in their metabolism? Skeletal myocytes have a low and consistent energy demand, while erythrocytes have a high and consistent energy demand. O Skeletal myocytes have a high and consistent energy demand, while erythrocytes have a low and consistent energy demand Skeletal myocytes have a high but variable energy demand, while erythrocytes have a high and consistent energy demand Skeletal myocytes have a high but variable energy demand, while erythrocytes have a low and consistent energy demand. Skeletal myocytes have a low but variable energy demand, while erythrocytes have a high but variable energy demand O Skeletal myocytes have a high but variable energy demand, while erythrocytes have a low but variable energy demand

Explanation / Answer

Because erythrocytes cannot oxidize fats, a process requiring mitochondrial activity, the RBC relies exclusively on blood glucose as a fuel. Metabolism of glucose in the RBC is entirely anaerobic, consistent with the primary role of the RBC in oxygen transport and delivery, rather than its utilization.Glycolysis is a relatively inefficient pathway for extracting energy from glucose: the yield of 2 moles of ATP per mole of glucose is only about 5% of the 30–32 ATP that are available by complete oxidation of glucose to CO2 and H2O by mitochondria in other tissues.

Thus skeletal muscles have high but variable energy demands ,while erythrocytes have low but consistent energy demands.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse B
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.