Exercise-induced maximum metabolic rate scaled to body mass by the fractal dimension of the vascular distribution network

Abstract

The central postulation of the present approach to metabolic rate scaling is that exercise-induced maximum aerobic metabolic rate (MMR) is proportional to the fractal extent (V) of an animal. Total fractal extent can be calculated from the sum of the fractal extents of the capillary service units, as specified by the formula V α N1L1D, where α means 'proportional to'. Here N1 is the number of capillaries and L1 is capillary length, with D the fractal dimension of the vascular distribution network and with L1D the fractal extent of a capillary service unit.