MDCAT Chemistry MCQ #542

A 16-year-old athlete experiences muscle cramps during a sprint. Which process is primarily responsible for the rapid ATP production in this situation?

MDCAT Chemistry MCQ #542

  1. Question 1

    Q1. A 16-year-old athlete experiences muscle cramps during a sprint. Which process is primarily responsible for the rapid ATP production in this situation?

    • A) Glycolysis in the absence of oxygen to produce 2 ATP
    • B) Oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria to produce 36 ATP
    • C) Phosphagen system, involving the rapid breakdown of phosphocreatine to ATP
    • D) Fermentation with lactic acid dehydrogenase to produce 2 ATP

    Answer: Phosphagen system, involving the rapid breakdown of phosphocreatine to ATP

    Explanation: The phosphagen system is primarily responsible for the rapid ATP production in this situation. It fails because glycolysis in the absence of oxygen is too slow and inefficient.