The term oxygen deficit refers to the
A) lag in oxygen consumption at the beginning of exercise.
B) excess oxygen consumption during recovery from exercise.
C) amount of oxygen required to maintain a steady state during constant-load exercise.
D) amount of oxygen utilized by the ATP-PC system in the first few minutes of exercise.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxygen deficit refers to the lag in oxygen consumption at the beginning of exercise, when the body's demand for energy exceeds the rate at which oxygen can be supplied to the working muscles. This results in an anaerobic energy contribution and a buildup of lactic acid. As oxygen uptake gradually increases to match demand, the body transitions to aerobic metabolism and clears the lactic acid.

The Term Oxygen Deficit Refers to the