Selected Lessons

Selected Lessons from the Illustrated Physiology Book The Physical Rules, by Ed Watson

NOTE: Each link/lesson opens up a single 'PDF-Page' that spans across two actual paper pages in a gatefold layout; therefore a very large screen or the book itself is best for effective viewing.

Metabolism is a slow form of combustion

In 1938, this train ran from Chicago to Sarasota, Fla. on dried milk briquettes. Combusting milk in a train’s firebox works well as a substitute fuel simply because human food is like wood, coal, or any gaseous fuel – all provide carbon atoms for fuel.

Metabolism is essentially a slow form of combustion; it occurs by following the basic formula of combustion obeyed by automobiles, and trains. The mitochondria of cells in the human body - functionally speaking are glorified fireboxes; C (carbon) combines with O2 (oxygen) to make CO2 (carbon dioxide). C + O2 makes CO2 inside mitochondria.

Thus, we blow out CO2 like cars. Respiration is combustion; oxidative metabolism is the science of knowing how to 'make a fire'. Knowing this in the proper metaphorical light simplifies the subjects of anatomy, physiology and exercise science. In fact...

...the scientific roots of metabolism, nutrition, health and human performance, and medical physiology originated in examining combustion in both inanimate and animated matter. This transformation of matter is recognized and felt by virtually all children throughout the world - in terms of an adult's request, outdoors on a cool evening:

"throw some fuel on the fire".

FUEL + O2... makes.... CO2 + H2O + HEAT

In the 1770's, Antoine Levoisier burned diamonds with solar power to demonstrate diamonds (an allotrope of carbon) would combust as coal does, but at a much higher temperature.

Indeed, humans combust the carbon atoms in food! This picture drawn by Lavoisier's wife, shows an early respiration experiment where a man's expired CO2 is collected into a closed vessel. Lavoisier is known as 'the father of modern chemistry'.

Conceiving 'metabolism is a slow form of combustion' and figuring out the chemistry of food stuffs within cells, laid the foundation for modern physiology, nutrition, biochemistry, and physics based medicine.

Because heart rate and oxygen consumption are integrated, Lavoisier ws able to accurately calculate heart rate, breath cycles, and oxygen consumption -as detailed by Dr. Paul Older in his article on the history of oxygen uptake, here. Thus begins a deeper understanding for the physical rules of health and human performance.