Question

explore different cellular changes
progress: screen 06 of 09
your client is a 17 - year - old athlete who presents with a compound fracture of the tibia. the leg is casted from foot to knee for 6 weeks, but the client continues to exercise their upper body without bearing weight on the leg.
what type of change did the muscle cells in his leg undergo during the 6 weeks of immobility?
hypertrophy
metaplasia
hyperplasia
atrophy

Explanation:

Atrophy occurs when cells reduce in size due to lack of use. In this case, the leg muscles were immobilized (not used) for 6 weeks, leading to atrophy. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size (opposite of what's happening here). Metaplasia is a change in cell type. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. None of these other options fit the scenario of muscle cells reducing in size due to disuse.

Answer:

Atrophy