A young man who ran 6 miles a day throughout high school is injured during his first season running cross country in college, and must rest for three months, then gradually begin exercising again. The skeletal muscles in his lower limbs decrease in size during this prolonged period of inactivity. The organelles that break down his muscle protein are

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lysosomes are the organelles responsible for breaking down and recycling cellular components, including muscle protein. During the period of inactivity, the young man's skeletal muscles are not being used, and so the lysosomes break down the muscle protein to release amino acids that can be used for energy or other cellular processes.

A Young Man Who Ran 6 Miles a Day Throughout