How is oxygen uptake (VO2) typically expressed?

Oxygen uptake, commonly referred to as VO2, is typically expressed in milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute (mL/kg/min). This measurement provides valuable context for assessing an individual's aerobic capacity and comparing the oxygen consumption relative to body size, which is especially useful in exercise science.

Expressing VO2 in this manner allows for standardized comparisons between subjects of varying weights and sizes. It demonstrates how efficiently an individual's body utilizes oxygen during physical activity, making it a standard metric for evaluating cardiovascular fitness and performance levels in both clinical and athletic contexts. This expression of VO2 can also be impacted by factors such as age, gender, fitness level, and type of exercise being performed.

The other options, while related to measurements and metabolic rates, do not provide the standardization per unit of body weight that is essential for accurate comparison in exercise physiology. Therefore, using milliliters per kilogram per minute is the most recognized and useful way to express oxygen uptake.