Which of the following pathways are commonly used to produce ATP during skeletal muscle contraction?

• A. Glycolysis
• B. Photosynthesis
• C. Electron transport chain
• D. Fermentation

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency in cells, including skeletal muscle cells, and is crucial for muscle contraction.
2. Recognize that glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP in the process. This pathway occurs in the cytoplasm and does not require oxygen, making it an anaerobic process.
3. Identify that the electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is the final stage of aerobic respiration and produces a significant amount of ATP by transferring electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen.
4. Note that photosynthesis is a process used by plants, algae, and some bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. It is not involved in ATP production during skeletal muscle contraction.
5. Understand that fermentation is an anaerobic process that allows glycolysis to continue by regenerating NAD+ from NADH. It produces ATP indirectly by allowing glycolysis to proceed, but it is not a primary pathway for ATP production in skeletal muscles during contraction.