A freshman studying medicine at an Ivy League College is a part of his class crew team and exercises regularly. After a particularly strenuous exercise session, he experiences severe cramps in his thighs and pain in his biceps.

•Explain the chemical process that occurred in his muscle cells to cause this discomfort.

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The severe cramps and pain experienced by the freshman studying medicine after his strenuous exercise session could be due to a chemical process called lactic acid fermentation.

During intense exercise, the body requires energy to power the muscles. This energy is usually supplied through a process called aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen to break down glucose and convert it into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's primary energy source.

However, during intense exercise, the oxygen supply may not be sufficient to meet the energy demands of the body. In such cases, the body switches to another energy production process called anaerobic respiration or lactic acid fermentation.

During anaerobic respiration, glucose is broken down without the use of oxygen. This process produces ATP but also leads to the formation of lactic acid as a byproduct. Lactic acid is a waste product that accumulates in the muscle cells when the oxygen supply is limited. The build-up of lactic acid can lower the pH level in the muscles, resulting in the discomfort and pain felt by the freshman.

Lactic acid can also disrupt muscle cell function and cause muscle cramps. The presence of excessive lactic acid in the muscles may interfere with calcium regulation and impair the ability of muscles to contract and relax properly.

In summary, the severe cramps and pain experienced by the freshman are due to the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle cells during the strenuous exercise session, which disrupts muscle cell function and causes discomfort.