Carbohydrates stored in the muscle are referred to as what?

The term that refers to carbohydrates stored in the muscle is glycogen. Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in both animals and humans. It is primarily stored in the liver and skeletal muscles, where it can be quickly mobilized to meet energy demands during physical activity. During exercise, glycogen is broken down into glucose, which provides fuel for muscle contractions.

While glucose is the simple sugar that results from the breakdown of glycogen, it is not stored in muscle tissue itself; rather, it circulates in the bloodstream and is utilized for energy. Starch, on the other hand, is a form of carbohydrate storage in plants and is not relevant to human muscle tissue. Fructose is another type of simple sugar found in fruits and is metabolized differently from glucose and glycogen, primarily influencing liver metabolism rather than muscle energy.

Therefore, glycogen is specifically the correct choice in this context, as it is the stored form of carbohydrates in muscles, crucial for energy during physical exertion.