Introduction to Kinesiology & Biomechanics (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes.

Kinesiology

The study of human movement, focusing on how muscles, bones, and joints contribute to physical activity.

Biomechanics

The study of movement mechanics of living organisms, applying mechanical principles to human movement.

Movement

The act or process of changing place or position; a core focus of kinesiology and biomechanics.

Muscle

Tissue that contracts to produce force and cause movement.

Bone

Rigid tissue forming part of the skeleton that provides support, protection, leverage, and mineral storage.

Joint

A point where two or more bones meet, allowing movement and providing stability.

Skeleton

The framework of bones that supports the body, divided into axial and appendicular portions.

Axial skeleton

Skull, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs; about 80 bones forming the central axis.

Appendicular skeleton

Bones of the limbs and girdles; about 126 bones that facilitate movement.

Long bones

Bones with elongated shafts and greater length than width (e.g., femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, radius, ulna) that act as levers.

Short bones

Cube-like bones with equal dimensions (carpals, tarsals) providing stable articulation and some shock absorption.

Flat bones

Broad, thin bones (scapula, sternum, clavicle, ribs, ilium, skull bones) that protect underlying tissues.

Irregular bones

Bones with complex shapes (vertebrae, sacrum, pubis, facial bones).

Sesamoid bones

Small bones embedded in tendons that modify tendon angle, protect tendons, and improve mechanical leverage.

Patella

The kneecap; a large sesamoid bone within the quadriceps tendon.

Anatomical position

Standard reference posture: standing erect, eyes forward, arms at sides, palms forward, feet parallel.

Fundamental position

Similar to anatomical position but with arms relaxed and palms inward.

Anterior

Toward the front (ventral) of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back (dorsal) of the body.

Superior

Toward the head (cranial).

Inferior

Toward the feet (caudal).

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Nearest the point of attachment to the trunk.

Distal

Farthest from the point of attachment to the trunk.

Planes of motion

The three cardinal planes: sagittal, frontal (coronal), and transverse (horizontal).

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right; movements such as flexion/extension occur here.

Frontal (Coronal) plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior; abduction/adduction occur here.

Transverse (Horizontal) plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior; rotational movements occur here.

Coordinate system

Fixed frame of reference with axes: mediolateral (ML), anterior/posterior (AP), and superior/inferior (SI).

Mediolateral axis

Also called the coronal/frontal axis; runs side-to-side; sagittal plane rotations occur about this axis.

Anteroposterior axis

Also called the sagittal axis; runs front-to-back; frontal plane rotations occur about this axis.

Longitudinal axis

Also called the vertical axis; runs top-to-bottom; transverse plane rotations occur about this axis.

Osteokinematics

Voluntary movement between two bones (primary or physiologic motion).

Arthrokinematics

Involuntary movement between joint surfaces needed for normal ROM (joint play).

Mechanopathology

Loads on the body that it was not designed to handle.

Pathomechanics

Altered movement patterns due to injury or disease that affect how a person moves.

Moment

The turning effect produced by a force about an axis (torque).

Force

A push or pull that can cause a change in motion or shape.

Torque

Rotational equivalent of force; turning effect about an axis.

Kinematics

Study of motion (position, velocity, acceleration) without considering forces.

Kinetics

Study of forces that cause motion, including forces and torques.

Rectilinear motion

Linear motion in a straight line.

Curvilinear motion

Linear motion along a curved path.

General motion

Movement that combines linear and angular components; most human movement.

Active motion

Motion produced by muscle activity.

Passive motion

Motion produced by external forces or passive structures (ligaments, gravity).

Center of Mass (COM)

The point at which the body's mass is considered to be concentrated; used as an origin in 3D analyses.

Patellectomy

Surgical removal of the patella; changes the angle of attachment of the patellar tendon.

Ergonomist

Professional who designs equipment and systems to fit human use and reduce injury, applying biomechanics.