Common Terms Glossary Flashcards
Abduction
Movement of a body part away from the midline of the body
Adduction
Movement toward or beyond the midline of the body in the frontal plane
Agonist
A contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by another muscle, antagonist
Androgen
Any substance that aids in development and controls the appearance of male characteristics
Antagonist
A muscle that produces an action that is the opposite of the agonist
Anterior
Before or in front of
Anterior tilt
Forward tilt of the pelvic girdle
Assistant mover
A muscle that aids the prime mover to effect joint movement
Asymmetry (body)
Lack of symmetry of sides of the body
Atrophy
A wasting or decrease in size of an organ, tissue, or body part going to disease, injury, or lack of use
Axilla
The armpit
Biomechanics
A branch of study that applies the power of mechanics to living organisms and tissues
Bursa
A sack or saclike bodily cavity, especially one containing viscous lubricating fluid. Located between a tendon and a bone or at points of friction between moving structures.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa
Calisthenics
Exercise performed without weights or outside resistance designed to develop muscular tone and promote physical well-being
Chiropractor
One who practices a method for restoring normal condition by adjusting the segment of the spine
Circumduct
An act of moving a limb in a circular motion
Concentric contraction
When the muscle overcomes resistance causing the muscle to shorten and the joint angle to be reduced
Contra lateral
Situated in the opposite side
Cranial
Refers to the head or skull
Depression
Downward movement of a part of the body
Distal
Farthest away from the point of reference
Dorsal
Pertaining to the posterior portion of a body or segment
Dorsiflexion
Bending the body part towards the rear, opposite or plantar flexion
Dorsum
The upper, outer surface of an organ, appendage, or body part
Downward rotation
Movement of the scapula as the arms are lowered, and the superior border of the scapula moves away from the midline (spine)
Eccentric muscle action
When resistance develops sufficient
Elevation
Upward movement of a body part
Exercise
Physical activity, the purpose of which is to improve some component of physical fitness
Expiration
Exhalation of
Extension
The act of straightening or extending a limb; the position assume by an extended limb
External rotation
In outward, clockwise rotation of a bone, away from the midline of the body
Eversion
The movement of the foot away from the midline of the body at the ankle joint. Also see pronation
Flexion
Movement resulting in the reduction of a joint angle
Horizontal abduction
The movement of the arms from horizontally across the body. Starting from a position where the shoulders are flexed at 90°, hands extended in front of the body, moving in the transverse plane to end in a position where the arms are flexed at 90° out of the side of the body
Hyper extension
And extreme stretching or extension of body part beyond the normal range
Hypertrophy
Enlargement of a body part due to the increase in the size of its cells
Hyperventilation
Abnormal, prolong deep breathing that causes a depletion of carbon dioxide, a fall and blood pressure, and possible seating
Idiopathic
Cause of injury unknown
Inferior
Away from the head; relatively lower in position
Injury
Act that damages or hurts
Innervation
Nerve stimulation of a muscle
Iliac
Refers to the area of the hip bones on either side of the body
Inversion
The movement of the foot toward the midline of the body at the ankle joint (supination)
Ipsilateral
Situated on the same side
Ischemia
Localized anemia or lack of oxygen
Isokinetic contraction
Accommodating or variable resistance. Movement of a body part through a range of motion at a constant speed
Isometric contraction
Muscular contraction that does not result in a change in the length of the muscle
Isotonic contraction
Muscular contraction that overcomes resistance, resulting in change in the length of the muscle
Joint
The articulation of two or more bones
Joint cavalry
The space between bones that is in capsulated by a synovial membrane in articular Cartlidge
Ketosis
A condition brought about by the restriction of carbohydrate intake, resulting in excessive acetone or other Keytone bodies being secreted by the body; stored fat becomes more available for energy
Kyphosis
An excessive posterior curve of the thoracic (upper) spine
Lactate
The end product of anaerobic metabolism of glucose; the disassociated form of lactic acid
Lactate threshold
The point during a graded exercise test at which the blood lactate concentration suddenly increases; a good indicator of the highest sustainable workload the individual can perform
Lateral flexion
Flexing the trunk or neck to either side in the frontal plane
Leg
Portion of the lower limb between the knee and foot
Lever
A rigid bar (like a bone) pivoted on a fixed point - used to transmit force, as in raising a weight at one end by pushing down on the other side
Ligament
Connective tissue that connects bone To bone
Limiting factor
A characteristic that determines the upper limit of performance on a particular task, exercise, etc. (muscle fiber type, cardiac output, and oxygen uptake)
Lordosis
An excessive forward curve of the lumbar (low) spine
Lumbar
Related or pertaining to the low back. They are five lumbar vertebrae located above the sacrum
Maximal
The highest level possible, the greatest effort attainable
Maximal aerobic power
The most oxygen that can be taken up and used by the body during maximal work. Relates directly to the rate that the heart can supply muscles with oxygenated blood.
Maximal heart rate
The highest heart rate attainable. Estimated by subtracting an individuals each from 220
Moment arm
The shortest or perpendicular distance from the point of force application to the joint or axis
Motor unit
The functional unit of muscular contraction consisting of a motor nerve in the muscle fibers in innervates
Muscle group
A group of specific muscles that are responsible for a particular movement or action at the same joint
Myositis
Inflammation of a muscle
Plantar flexion
Extend in the foot away or pointing ones toes, opposite of dorsiflexion
Plyometric
The eccentric or lengthening contraction of a muscle immediately preceding a concentric contraction
Posterior
Related or pertaining to the rear
Posterior tilt
Backward tilt of the pelvis
Posture
The position or carriage of the entire body
Progression
A gradual increase from the current level. A term to indicate the use of greater resistance to overload a muscle to effect adaptation
Pronation
Foot - eversion combined with abduction of the forefoot. Forearm - rotation of the wrist and hand towards the radius
Prone
Lying with the front or face down
Protraction
Forward movement of a body part
Proximal
Closer to any point of reference
Retraction
Backward movement of a part
Rotation
Movement of a bone around it’s long (longitudinal) axis
Superficial
External; located close to or on the body surface
Superior
Refers to the head or upper; higher
Supination
Foot - Inversion combined with adduction of the forefoot. Forearm - rotation of the wrist and hand laterally
Supine
Refers to the body lying with the face upward, opposite of prone
Synergist
A muscle cooperating with another to produce movement that could not be performed by either muscle individually
Thoracic
Refers to the chest
Thorax
The portion of the trunk above the diaphragm and below the neck
Tissue
A group of similar cells in fibers that form a distinct structure
Tonic
The state of being in a consistent state muscular or neural activity
Torque
The effect of producing a force the rotation; the product of force times length of the force arm
Umbilicus
The navel - The site that marks where the umbilical cord was present
Vasoconstriction
The narrowing of blood vessels
Vasodilation
The widening of blood vessels
Vein
A vessel that carries blood away from the tissues and towards the heart
Velocity
The rate of motion of a body traveling in a particular direction
Ventilation
The process of oxygenating the blood to the lungs
Ventricle
A small cavity or pouch; chambers of the heart that push blood out to the tissues
Vertigo
A feeling of dizziness, as though the environment was revolving
Viscosity
The state of being sticky or thick
Vital capacity
The total volume of air that can be exhaled following a maximal inhalation
Voluntary muscle
Skeletal muscle; muscle under ones control
Warm-up
Light to moderate physical activity performed prior to exercise
Work
The movement of force through distance
Work rate
Power or work generated per unit of time
Anteroinferior
In front and below
Anterolateral
In front and to the side, especially the outside
Anteromedial
In front and toward the inner side or midline
Anteroposterior
Relating to both front and rear
Caudal
Below in relation to another structure; inferior
Cephalic
Above in relation to another structure; higher, superior
Deep
Beneath or below the surface; used to describe depth or location of muscle or tissue
Lateral
On or to the side; outside, farther from the median or midsaggital plane
Medial
Relating tot the middle or center, nearer to the medial or midsaggital plane
Posterinferior
Behind and below
Posterolateral
Behind abs to one side, especially outside
Posteromedial
Behind and to the inner side
Posterosuperior
Behind abs at the upper part
Ventral
Relating to the belly or abdomen
Volar
Relating to palm of the hand or sole of the foot
Origin
The origin is generally considered the least movable part or the part that attaches closest to the midline of the body
Insertion
Insertion is generally considered the most movable part or the part that attaches farthest from the midline of the body
