hapnikuküllus

Hapnikuküllus, also known as oxygen debt, is a physiological concept referring to the extra oxygen the body needs to recover after a period of intense anaerobic exercise. During strenuous activity when oxygen supply cannot meet demand, the body relies on anaerobic metabolism, which produces lactic acid as a byproduct. This lactic acid accumulates in the muscles.

Following the cessation of exercise, the body needs to replenish its oxygen stores that were depleted. This includes re-oxygenating myoglobin in muscles, re-synthesizing ATP and creatine phosphate, and processing the accumulated lactic acid. The increased oxygen consumption during the recovery period, above the resting metabolic rate, is what constitutes the oxygen debt.

This extra oxygen is consumed to convert lactic acid back into pyruvate, which can then enter aerobic respiration pathways, or to be converted into glucose in the liver. The duration and intensity of the exercise will influence the magnitude of the oxygen debt. While once thought to be solely about lactic acid removal, modern understanding recognizes that oxygen debt encompasses a broader range of recovery processes. The term "excess post-exercise oxygen consumption" (EPOC) is often used interchangeably with oxygen debt and is considered a more precise description of the phenomenon.