1. Metabolism, explained simplistically, can be divided into two components; one involves the building up of the tissues & organs of the body; the other involves the breaking down of substances to produce waste products. What are these two opposite porocesses called? ANABOLISM and CATABOLISM back to questions

2. The muscle of what organ of the body continually contracts, causing it to quiver 30 to 60 times per second? THE EYE back to questions

3. At birth, a baby has about 305 of these; due to fusion, an adult has only about 206. What are they? BONES back to questions

4. Why do my muscles burn when I'm exercising? The "burn" comes from the build-up of lactic acid, which forms as a by-product of energy production by muscle fibers. As the fibers convert glycogen to ATP, some of the reactions take place without oxygen. In this process, a compound called pyruvate is produced. Some of the pyruvate is absorbed into the muscle cell's mitochondria and converted into useful energy. But during strenuous exercise, the mitochondria can't handle all the pyruvate that's produced. The excess pyruvate becomes lactic acid, a dead end as far as energy production is concerned. As the concentration of lactic acid in the muscle fiber increases, the acidity of the cell changes, causing muscle fatigue and the all-too-familiar "burn." The best way to relieve lactic-acid-induced soreness is to continue to move around, but at a slower pace and without strain or with massage. Both stimulate blood circulation, which cleans out the built-up lactic acid from the muscles. back to questions

5. How does ice help a sprained ankle or other injury? Cold helps cut down on swelling by shrinking the blood vessels. This reduces bleeding and therefore swelling in the affected area. Cold also helps keep the muscles from spasming (contracting uncontrollably) and relieves pain. But too much cold can damage the skin, which is why you should apply ice for a while, take a break, then apply it again. This allows the skin to return to normal temperature between treatments. Generally speaking, you should apply ice for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the body part and your own comfort level. Areas with little body fat (like the ankle, knee, and elbow) cannot handle cold as well as fatty areas (like the thigh and buttocks). A bag of frozen peas can make an excellent substitute for an ice bag, since the peas will better mold to the shape of your ankle (or knee or whatever). Cold gel packs that can be frozen and refrozen cool the skin faster than an ordinary ice bag and should only be applied for short periods. Chemical cold bags (which stay at room temperature until squeezing mixes the chemicals inside) don't get as cold as an icebag, and can stay on the skin for longer periods of time. Cold therapy may not be recommended for people who are very sensitive to cold, those with blood vessels too near the skin, and diabetics and others who have problems with diminished blood flow. If you're one of those people, you should talk to your doctor about applying ice to an injury. Heat can also relax muscles and relieve pain, but it makes swelling worse by stimulating blood flow. That's why cold is best immediately following an injury and for at least 48 hours afterward, or until the swelling goes down. Then heat can help, as the increased blood flow "cleans" out the damaged area. back to questions

6. Why are women more likely to develop Osteoporosis than men?Linda Roberts researched the answer and found:

Women usually start out with low tone mass and less mineral reserve in the first place. The diet of many women contains insufficient calcium and other essential minerals and loss or estrogen at menopause interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium from the diet and incorporate it into bone. Women are less likely than men to do weight-bearing exercise which helps increase bone mass. RISK FACTORS: age, low bone mass, prolonged estrogen deficiency back to questions