TED-Ed: What makes muscles grow? - Jeffrey Siegel

Muscles, making up a significant portion of body weight, require regular attention to grow or maintain. The brain and muscles work together to perform tasks, with muscle fibers undergoing stress-induced damage and repair, leading to growth. Hypertrophy requires exposure to higher workloads, while lack of resistance leads to atrophy. Nutrition, hormones, and rest are crucial for muscle repair and growth, with factors like gender, age, and genetics influencing muscle-building potential. Meaningful growth, akin to life, demands challenge and stress.

What role does the brain play when you attempt to open a door?

• It sends signals to motor neurons to coordinate muscle movement.

• It directly pulls the door open.

• It relaxes the muscles to conserve energy.

• It increases body temperature to generate force.

What happens to muscle fibers when they are exposed to stress?

• They shrink and lose mass.

• They immediately grow larger.

• They become permanently damaged.

• They undergo microscopic damage, which is beneficial.

What is the process called when muscles grow due to increased workload?

• Muscular atrophy

• Hypertrophy

• Eccentric contraction

• Cytokine activation

Which of the following is essential for muscle repair and growth?

• Constant physical activity without rest

• High sugar intake

• Adequate protein and rest

• Avoiding all forms of stress

How do genetic factors influence muscle-building potential?

• They only influence muscle growth in older adults.

• They determine the exact size of muscles.

• They have no impact on muscle growth.

• They affect immune reactions to muscle damage.