IB Sports, exercise and health science A.2.3.5 Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) and Recovery Key Definitions

The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.

The process in which lactate is transported to the liver and converted back into glucose via gluconeogenesis.

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) refers to the continued elevation of oxygen consumption after exercise has ended.

An iron-rich pigment in red blood cells that binds oxygen in the lungs and transports it to the body's tissues, then helps return carbon dioxide to the lungs.

Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute (bpm). It reflects how fast the heart pumps blood to meet metabolic demands.

A metabolic byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis that can be used as an energy source in muscles, the heart, and the liver.

Cell components that are the site of aerobic ATP production. They host the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain and are the only place in the cell where oxygen is used. Present in all human cells except red blood cells.

A protein in muscle cells that stores and releases oxygen for muscle contraction.

The amount of oxygen required to restore normal metabolic function following intense exercise, during which the body consumes more oxygen than usual to recover.

The temporary condition where the body’s oxygen consumption during exercise is insufficient to meet the immediate demand, leading to EPOC as the body works to restore oxygen levels and clear metabolic byproducts.

The gap between the oxygen required during exercise and the oxygen available at the onset of physical activity. This deficit leads to anaerobic metabolism and the production of lactate.

A high-energy compound stored in muscles that provides quick ATP regeneration during the early stages of exercise before aerobic metabolism fully activates.

Recovery is the time taken for the body to repair and adapt after training.