Final answer:
The Fick equation is used to calculate oxygen consumption by determining the flow rate of blood pumped by the heart with reference to oxygen content in arteries and veins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation that calculates the consumption of oxygen is the Fick equation. The Fick principle is used in physiology and medicine to determine the cardiac output (CO), which is the flow rate of blood pumped by the heart. The Fick equation is as follows: CO = rate of oxygen consumption / (arterial oxygen content - venous oxygen content). The normal arteriovenous difference in oxygen content (CaO2-CvO2), which reflects the amount of oxygen removed from the blood as it passes through the body's circulation, can vary but is typically around 4-5 ml O2 per 100 ml blood.