Why muscle glycogen can't raise blood glucose
Why can't skeletal muscle glycogen directly raise blood glucose during fasting?
Answer C: explanation for every choice
A
Muscle has glycogen phosphorylase and breaks down glycogen during exercise.
B
Muscle glycogen is branched like liver glycogen.
C
Correct. Without glucose-6-phosphatase, muscle traps glucose-6-phosphate and uses it for its own glycolysis.
D
Muscle takes up glucose through GLUT4, but it can't release free glucose.
TakeawayOnly liver (and kidney) can release free glucose, because they have glucose-6-phosphatase.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID bb110.