Key Terms: Units 1, 2 & 3 Flashcards
Training effect
An increase in functional capacity of muscles and other bodily tissue as a result of increased stress (overload) placed on them.
Homeostasis
The automatic tendency to maintain a relatively constant internal environment.
Metabolism
The chemical process occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.
Anabolism
The building up of complex chemical compounds from simpler compounds.
Catabolism
The breaking down of complex chemical compounds into simpler compounds.
Metabolic set point
The base rate of metabolism that your body seeks to maintain.
Basal metabolic rate
The minimum energy required to maintain the body’s life function at rest.
Kilocalories
The amount of energy released when food is digested.
Calorie
A unit of heat.
Thermogenic effect
The heat liberated from a particular food is thus a measure not only of its energy content but also of its tendency to be burned as heat.
Respiratory quotient
A method of determining the “fuel mix” being used giving us a way to measure the relative amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins being burned for energy.
Pyruvate
A byproduct of glycolysis.
Beta oxidation
A series of reactions in which fatty acids are broken down.
Krebs cycle
Citric acid cycle; a set of 8 reactions, arranged in a cycle, in which free energy is recovered in the form of ATP.
Electron transport
The passing of electrons over a membrane aiding in a reaction to recover free energy for the synthesis of ATP.
Tissue
A collection of similar cells and their intracellular substances.
Fatty acids
Any of a large group of monobasic acids, especially those found in animal and vegetable fats and oils.
Triglycerides
The storage form of fat made up of three fatty acids and a glycerol group.
Insulin
A polypeptide hormone functioning in the regulation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, especially the conversion of glucose to glycogen, which lowers the blood glucose level.
Glucose
Principal circulating sugar in the blood and the major energy source of the body.
Glycogen granule
Structure of the cell that stores glycogen and enzymes for glycogen breakdown and synthesis.
Gluconeogenesis
Chemical process that converts lactate and private back into glucose.
Glycolysis
The metabolic process that creates energy from the splitting of glucose to form pyruvic acid or lactic acid and ATP.
Squamous epithelium
Epithelium consisting of one or more cell layers, the most superficial of which is composed of flat, scale-like or plate-like cells.
Cuboidal epithelium
Epithelium consisting of one or more cell layers, the most superficial of which is composed of elongated and somewhat cylindrical cells projecting toward the surface.
Glandular
Of, or relating to, affecting, or resembling a gland or it’s secretion.
Tendons
Connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
Ligaments
Connective tissue that connects bone to bone or bone to cartilage.
Integumentary system
Bodily system consisting of the skin and it’s associated structures, such as the hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.
Skeletal system
System consisting of bone and cartilage that supports and protects the body.
Muscular system
System consisting of skeletal muscles that allow us to move, cardiac muscle in the heart, and smooth muscles of the internal organs.
Lymphatic system
Subsystem of the circulatory system, which protects the body against disease.
Urinary system
Main excretory system of the body, which consists of the kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder and urethra.
Reproductive system
System consisting of gonads, associated ducts, and external genitals concerned with sexual reproduction.
Respiratory system
System consisting of the lungs and air passageways, which supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide.
Hemoglobin
An oxygen transporting protein found in the blood cells.
Vital capacity
The usable portion of the lungs.
Maximum minute volume
The amount of air that a person can process during one minute of vigorous exercise.
Residual volume
The remainder of the air in the lungs after the usage lung volume has been measured.
Circulatory system
System consisting of the heart and blood vessels that serves as the transportation system.
Plasma
The fluid portion of blood.
Erythrocyte
Blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissue; a biconcave disc that has no nucleus. (Red blood cell)
Leukocyte
Cell whose primary function is to combat infections. (White blood cell)
Platelet
Cytoplasmic body found in the blood plasma that functions to promote blood clotting.
Alveoli
Capillary-rich air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
Law of Gaseous Diffusion
Principle that states that a gas will move across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Diastolic pressure
Pressure exerted on the walls of the blood vessels during the refilling of the heart.
Anaerobic
Occurring without the use of oxygen.
Aerobic
Occurring with the use of oxygen, or requiring oxygen.
Sympathetic nervous system
An automatic system that speeds up most activities in the body.
Adrenal glands
Two glands that release hormones that help the body to cope with stress.
Stroke volume
The volume of blood pumped by one ventricle during one contraction.
Left ventricle ejection fraction
The percentage of blood inside the left ventricle pushed out into the body after contraction.
Max VO2 uptake
The maximum usable portion of oxygen uptake.
Digestive system
System consisting of the digestive tract and glands that secrete digestive juices into the digestive tract. Responsible for the breakdown of foods and waste elimination.
Digestion
The process of mechanical or chemical breakdown of food into absorbable molecules.
Macronutrients
A category of nutrients, including carbs, proteins, and fats, that are present in foods in large amounts.
Fructose
Fruit sugar.
Lipogenesis
The formation of fat.
Nervous system
System comprised of the brain, spinal cord, sense organs, and nerves. Regulates other systems.
Nerve impulse
A brief reversal of the membrane potential that sweeps along the membrane of a neuron.
Central nervous system
System comprised of the brain and spinal column.
Peripheral nervous system
Relays messages from the CNS to the body, and relays messages to the CNS from the body.
Efferent system
System designed to cause action; consists of the somatic and autonomic systems.
Somatic system
System responsible for voluntary action.
Autonomic system
System that processes and activates involuntary action.
Afferent system
The part of the PNS that sends messages to the CNS.
Contraction
The shortening of a muscle or increase in tension.
Endocrine system
System consisting of the glands and tissues that release hormones. It works with the nervous system in regulating metabolic activities.
Glucagon
A hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates an increase in blood sugar levels, thus opposing the action of insulin.
Glycogenolysis
Process describing the cleavage of glucose from the glycogen molecule.
Growth hormone (HGH)
A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that affects skeletal growth rate and bodily weight gain.
Epinepherine
A hormone produced by the adrenal gland that causes the “flight or fight” response.
Cortisol
A corticosteroid that causes a breakdown of protein in muscles.
Ketosis
An abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the body; usually the result of a low-carb diet, fasting or starvation.
