Physiology of Exercise

Oxygen Deficit and EPOC

Before coming to lab, read the section entitled “Measuring Energy Expenditure” on pages 114-116 in the
text. Read and understand the Postexercise Oxygen Consumption section on pages 123-124 in the text.
Study the diagram in Figure 5.5, p. 123 so that you can replicate the diagram with data that will be
collected in class. Be able to define the following terms: O2 deficit, O2 requirement, steady-state O2
consumption, and EPOC.

Introduction
One characteristic of living animals is that they all give off heat. As a result of cellular respiration and cellular
work heat is produced. An operational definition of metabolism is the rate of heat production which describes
the metabolic rate.

The direct measure of heat production, called direct calorimetry, is a technically difficult problem so an
alternative method is to measure the volume of oxygen consumed or utilized by the body for ATP production.
The determination of the metabolic rate from the measure of oxygen consumption is called indirect calorimetry.

In our laboratory we utilize a metabolic measurement cart for our indirect calorimetry measurements. This
system measures the total volume of ventilated air as well as the differences of oxygen and carbon dioxide
levels from the ambient and expired air. The system’s computer uses this information to calculate the volume
of oxygen utilization (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2). To take these measurements, a subject is
fitted with a low-resistant, two-way non-rebreathing valve in her/his mouth which directs all expired air to the
metabolic measurement cart via a long flexible hose. As the expiratory air enters the cart, it passes through an
instrument which measures air volume. The air enters a mixing chamber from which a small sampling line
draws air from the mixing chamber to an oxygen and a carbon dioxide analyzer which are interfaced, along with
the air-flow meter, to a computer which makes the necessary computations.

The data for this lab will be collected on one subject. The subject subject
will perform a 10-minute moderate exercise bout by running at 6
mph on the treadmill. Prior to the exercise bout, resting VO2 will
be determined for 5 minutes while sitting on the treadmill in a
chair, and following the exercise the recovery VO2 will be expired air
determined for 10 minutes while sitting on the treadmill in a
chair. For this entire 25-minute period, VO2 will be determined
every 30 seconds. The VO2 values will be entered into Excel. volume analyzer

Application
1. Using Excel and the 25 minutes of VO2 data, graph VO2 O2 analyzer
mixing
versus time (just like the graph in Figure 5.5).
chamber
2. Determine the quantity of the O2 deficit and the EPOC in
CO2 analyzer
ml.min-1 using the VO2 data collected during the 25-min period.
Explain how you determined these values.
3. If rather than running at 6 mph the subject ran at 8 mph,
would the quantity of O2 deficit and the EPOC change? Provide
a physiological rationale. computer
4. In addition to the quantity of the O2 deficit and EPOC, explain
the direction of change and the reason for the change from the 8
mph bout compare to the 6 mph bout in the following variables: O2 requirement, steady-state O2 consumption,
length of recovery to reach resting VO2.