Chapter 2: The basics of exercise science

Question 1

Human Movement

Answer 1

The kinetic chain (human movement system) is made up of three primary systems. The skeletal system (bones and joints), the muscular system (ligaments, tendons, muscles, and fascia) and the nervous system (peripheral and central nerves).

Question 2

Nervous system

Answer 2

One of the primary organ systems in the body. Is a combination of billions of cells that communicate with one another in a network within the body. The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the spinal cord and brain. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of nerves that connect the spinal cord and brain to the rest of the human body.

Question 3

Sensory function

Answer 3

The ability of the nervous system to notice changes in their external or internal environment. This is one of the three main functions of the nervous system.

Question 4

Integrative function

Answer 4

The ability that the nervous system has to interpret and analyze sensory information. This allows for adequate decision-making and producing the correct response.

Question 5

Motor function

Answer 5

This is the neuromuscular (Muscular and nervous system) response to sensory information. For example your body’s response by muscular contraction when you touch burning hot metal.

Question 6

Proprioception

Answer 6

This is the cumulative sensory input to the CNS (Central nervous system) from all of the various mechanoreceptors that can sense limb movement and body position. Proprioception training improves coordination, posture, and balance.

Question 7

Neuron

Answer 7

This is the functional unit of the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of billions of neurons. This allows it to communicate outside with the environment as well as internally with itself. Neuron’s transmit impulses through chemical and electrical signals. Neuron’s form the core of the spinal cord, brain and peripheral ganglia that make up the nervous system. A neuron has three main parts: Cell body, axon, and dendrites.

Question 8

Sensory neurons (afferent)

Answer 8

This is a type of nerve cell that conducts impulses to the central nervous system from a sense organ.

Question 9

Interneurons

Answer 9

Interneurons send nerve impulses between one another.

Question 10

Motor neurons (efferent)

Answer 10

This is a type of nerve cell that sends impulses to glands, muscles and other effectors. Stimulates muscle contraction to initiate movement.

Question 11

Central nervous system and Peripheral nervous system

Answer 11

The CNS or central nervous system is made up of your brain and spinal cord. The PNS or peripheral nervous system branches out from your central nervous system to connect it with the rest of your body.

Question 12

Mechanoreceptors

Answer 12

Specialized receptors that respond to pressure inside of tissues and transmit signals through sensory nerves. These respond to forces such as motion, sound waves, pressure, stretching and touch. It can sense the various distortions in the human body.

Question 13

Muscle spindles

Answer 13

These are sensory receptors that sit parallel to muscular fibers. These special spindles are able to detect the length of a muscle and how fast it changes length. This helps to regulate the contraction of muscles by way of the stretch reflex mechanism. Its purpose is to help prevent and protect over stretching that could lead to muscular damage.

Question 14

Golgi tendon organs

Answer 14

Golgi tendon organs or GTO is another type of specialized sensory receptor. They are found where tendons attached to skeletal muscular fibers. These receptors can sense the change in muscular tension and the rate that this tension changes. When you activate the Golgi tendon organ it will cause a muscle to relax. This is to help prevent injury from excess stress and contraction.

Question 15

Joint receptors

Answer 15

These receptors are located around the joint capsule. They respond to acceleration, deceleration, and pressure at the joint. They are able to sense extreme joint positions and send signals in order to prevent injuries.

Question 16

Skeletal system

Answer 16

This is the body’s framework that is comprised of joints and bones. It provides the focus and shapes for bodies. It also creates blood for the human body and stores minerals. The functionality, growth, and maturation of the skeletal system can be affected by activity, nutrition, and posture.

Question 17

Bones

Answer 17

Provide protection for vital organs and a resting place for muscles.

Question 18

Joints

Answer 18

These are the junctions for muscles, bones and connective tissues where movement occurs. It is also known as articulation.

Question 19

Axial skeleton

Answer 19

The area of the skeletal system that contains the rib cage, skull, and vertebral column. It consists of 80 bones.

Question 20

Appendicular skeleton

Answer 20

This is the area of the skeletal system that consists of the lower and upper extremities. It’s basically the legs, arms, appendage in appendicular. This contains 126 bones.

Question 21

Remodeling

Answer 21

This is the process of formation and resorption of bone. Is the process where the older bone is broken down and taken away by osteoclasts and new bone is made to replace it with cells called osteoblasts.

Question 22

Osteoclasts

Answer 22

The cells that help remove bone tissue.

Question 23

Osteoblasts

Answer 23

The cells that help create new bone tissue.

Question 24

Epiphysis

Answer 24

located at the end of long bones and a place that contains a large portion of red marrow involved in the production of red blood cells. This is one of the main locations for bone growth.

Question 25

Diaphysis

Answer 25

This is the long portion of the bone that is considered the shaft. It is much more compact and strong.

Question 26

Epiphyseal plate

Answer 26

This is the area of the long bone that connects the epiphysis to the diaphysis. This is a dividing layer of cartilage in cells that grow lengthwise to create the diaphysis.

Question 27

Periosteum

Answer 27

This is the dense and fibrous outer layer where muscles attach and a more delicate layer inside that can create bone.

Question 28

Medullary Cavity

Answer 28

This is the location where bone marrow is stored and where blood cell formation happens. Is a small cavity that is located in the shaft of the bone.

Question 29

Articular Cartilage (Hyaline)

Answer 29

This is the inelastic, flexible yet firm type of connective tissue that is located at the end of bones at the joint.

Question 30

Depressions

Answer 30

These are flat areas of a bone.

Question 31

Processes

Answer 31

This is a part of the bone where ligaments in muscle attach.

Question 32

Vertebral Column

Answer 32

Made up of 24 bones that create the spinal column. There are 5 lumbar, 12 thoracic and 7 cervical.

Question 33

Arthrokinematics

Answer 33

This is the description of joint surfaces when bones are put through a range of motion.

Question 34

Synovial joints

Answer 34

These are joined bones that have a fibrous joint capsule. These joints produce synovial fluid that kind of looks like egg whites to protect the joints. Approximately eighty percent of joints in the human body are synovial joints.

Question 35

Non-synovial joints

Answer 35

These are joints that are non-movable and exclude the joint cartilage, capsule, and ligaments. Mostly found in the distal joint of the fibula and tibia as well as the skull.

Question 36

Ligaments

Answer 36

This is what connects bones to other bones and helps joint support.

Question 37

Muscular system

Answer 37

The full collection of all of the muscles in the human body.

Question 38

Epimysium

Answer 38

This is the layer of muscular connective tissue on the outside.

Question 39

Perimysium

Answer 39

This is the muscular connective tissue in the middle that encompasses the muscle fascicle.

Question 40

Endomysium

Answer 40

The deepest layer of the muscular connective tissue that covers muscle fibers.

Question 41

Tendons

Answer 41

Connect skeletal muscles to the bone with a band of white, inelastic, dense and tough band of tissue.

Question 42

Sarcomere

Answer 42

This is the functional unit of a muscle that produces contractions. It is comprised of actin and myosin. This is the repeating section of a muscle.

Question 43

Neural Activation

Answer 43

This is the process of nervous system activation of a muscle fiber by the means of the neuromuscular junction.

Question 44

Motor unit

Answer 44

The motor neuron as well as all of the muscle fiber that it innervates.

Question 45

Neurotransmitters

Answer 45

These are small chemical messengers that are able to cross the neuromuscular synapse (junction) in order to transmit these and electrical impulses from the nerve to the muscle.

Question 46

Type I (slow twitch)

Answer 46

These are also known as endurance fibers. They are smaller, produce less power, receive more oxygen and are more mitochondrial dense.

Question 47

Type II (fast twitch)

Answer 47

These do not have as much endurance, have less oxygen delivery, have short-term contractions, can produce more force and power and are larger than type I fibers.

Question 48

Type IIx

Answer 48

These have a low oxidative capacity and are quick to fatigue.

Question 49

Type IIa

Answer 49

These have a higher oxidative capacity and will fatigue slower than type IIx. Another name for these is intermediate fast twitch muscle fibers.

Question 50

Excitation-contraction coupling

Answer 50

This is the process where the nervous system stimulates a muscle in the body to contract. Another name for it is the sliding filament theory. The steps that are seen in the NASM textbook provide 10 different steps from the initiation until the end of the contraction. Here are five steps so that you can more easily memorize the process.

1. Ach is released and binds with receptors that starts an action potential down the T Tubula.
2. This action potential initiates a calcium release (Ca2+).
3. The calcium then binds with troponin which stops the blocking action of tribal myosin that exposes the active binding site for actin.
4. The next thing that occurs is contraction by the myosin cross bridges that alternately detach and attach to actin. This brings the filaments closer to the middle of the sarcomere. In order for actin and myosin to detach every quires ATP.
5. The last step is that Tropomyosin comes back to its location and covers the actin active site. At this point, no more contractions happen.

Question 51

What are the 4 primary functions that muscles are categorized into?

Answer 51

Stabilizer, synergist, agonist, antagonist

Question 52

Agonist

Answer 52

This is the prime mover

Question 53

Synergist

Answer 53

This assists and helps the prime mover

Question 54

Stabilizer

Answer 54

These help with stabilizing the joints and the body during movement

Question 55

Antagonist

Answer 55

These muscles relax in order to permit the prime mover to do its work