What term describes the process of muscle wasting where muscles decrease in size and strength?

• A. Bone
• B. Atrophy
• C. Dermis
• D. Weight Bearing

Answer: (B)

Muscle wasting with a decrease in size and strength is called atrophy. This happens when a muscle isn’t used enough or when its nerve or nutritional supply is compromised. When activity drops, the body reduces the amount of proteins built into muscle fibers and may even break down existing proteins, causing the fibers to shrink and the muscle to lose strength. Disuse from immobilization, aging, malnutrition, or nerve injury are common contributors. Atrophy is the opposite of hypertrophy, which is the growth of muscle from training. The other terms aren’t related to the process described: bone is the hard structural tissue, the dermis is a layer of skin, and weight bearing refers to the act of supporting or applying load, which can help prevent atrophy rather than describe the wasting process itself.