Sports Science Vocab Midterm

antidiuretic hormone

a hormone that causes the kidneys to retain fluids and reduce urine production

autonomic nervous system

a division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions, such as HR, digestion and breathing

baroreceptors

specialised nerve cells that detect higher or lower blood pressure

blood pressure

the pressure in the arteries

CNS

a division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

chemoreceptors

specialised cells that detect chemicals in the mouth (taste), nose (smell) and body fluids

effector

an organ that responds to a stimulus, nerve impulse or hormone

endocrine system

part of the body, consisting of all tissues or glands that secrete hormones, that works with the nervous system to regulate the human body and control responses to physiological changes

epinephrine

a hormone involved in regulating blood pressure, HR, and blood sugar levels

erythropoietin

glycoprotein hormones mainly produced in kidneys stimulate red blood cell production in bone marrow

gland

an organ which secretes a substance such as an enzyme or a hormone

glucagon

hormone involved in blood sugar regulation

gluconeogenesis

the conversion of protein or fat into glucose

glycaemic index

a measure of the ability of a food to raise blood glucose levels

glycogen

storage form of glucose

glycogenesis

a process by which many glucose molecules are linked together to form glycogen

glycogenolysis

the conversion of glycogen to glucose

glycolysis

the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate

glycolytic system

an anaerobic method of generating ATP

heart rate

the number of heart beats per minute

hormones

chemicals released by glands or tissues, to control and regulate the activity of other cells around the body

PNS

connects CNS to limbs and organs for muscle contraction, reflex actions, etc

motor nerves

transmit signals from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles and glands

nervous system

nerves that send information from the CNS to tissues, organs and systems of the body

adipose tissue

the part of the body that senses internal and external conditions and allows communication, coordination and interaction of tissues and systems

neurone

a nerve cell which conducts electrical impulses

neurotransmitter molecule

a chemical messenger which transmits signals across a chemical synapse from one neurone to another neurone

norepinephrine

a hormone involved in regulating blood pressure, HR and blood sugar levels

progesterone

a reproductive hormone that has effects on sparing glycogen and joint stiffness

parasympathetic nervous system

a division of the autonomic nervous system which has a major role carrying out processes such as digestion, urination, glandular secretion and conservation of energy

oestrogen

a reproductive hormone involved in the menstrual cycle

proprioceptors

specialised cells located in muscles, tendons, joints and the inner ear which provide information about body position, muscle length and tension, position and movement of joints, and help maintain balance

sense organ

a sense organ which detects a stimulus

reflex action

a means of automatically and rapidly integrating and coordinating stimuli with the responses of effectors

reflex arc

the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action, involving a receptor, sensory neurone, motor neurone and effector

relay neurone

a nerve cell, found in the CNS, which passes signals from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

receptor

group of receptor cells responding to a specific stimuli such as light, sound, touch, temperature and chemicals

sensory nerves

nerves that inform the CNS about what is going on within the body and outside the body

sympathetic nervous system

a division of the autonomic nervous system that activates the fight or flight response

synapse

a junction between two neurones

synaptic gap

a small space in a synapse between the end of one neurone and the start of another. neurotransmitter substances diffuse across the gap to trigger a new electrical impulse

stomatic nervous system

a division of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements of the skeletal muscles

stimulus

an event in the surroundings or internal anatomy of an organism, which produces a reaction

testosterone

pred male reproductive hormone which helps with bone formation, aids in muscle growth and repair, and also helps in the production of erythropoietin

thermoregulation

regulation of body temperature

vesicle

a structure in the cytoplasm of the cell which contains a liquid e.g neurotrasmitter substance in a nerve cell

acclimatization

a natural adaptation, e.g to improve exercise performance and heat tolerance in a hot climate

adaptation

the body’s attempts to counteract stressors, such as heat, humidity and cold

ATP

a molecule that provides energy for muscle contraction when it is split

altitude

height above sea level

baroreceptors

specialised nerve cells that detect high or lower blood pressure

barometric pressure

the total pressure exerted on the human body by all the gases that make up the atmosphere

BMI

a measurement of body fat calculated by dividing mass in kilograms by height in metres squared

conduction

heat energy transmitted through collisions between neighbouring atoms or molecules

convection

the movement of particles through a substance, transporting their heat energy from hotter to cooler areas

evaporation

change of state form liquid to gas

frostbite

the continued cooling and freezing of cells

frostnip

the initial freezing of the superficial skin tissue

HACE

high altitude cerebral edema - severe altitude sickness where the brain swells with fluid due to a lack of oxygen at high elevations

HAPE

high altitude pulmonary edema - severe altitude sickness where fluid collects in the lungs

heat stress

a series of condition where the body is under stress from overheating

homeostasis

the condition in which the body’s internal environment remains relatively constant, within physiological limits

hypothalamus

the part of the brain responsible for maintaining homeostasis

hypothermia

low body temperature that has different clinical categories depending on the severity

hyperthermia

an elevated body temperature usually above 39ºc

hyperventilation

rapid or deep breathing

hypoxia

a condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply

insulin

a hormone involved in blood sugar regulation

VO2 max

an individual’s maximal rate of oxygen uptake, which represents maximal aerobic capacity

negative feedback

a reaction that causes a decrease in a function as part of the process of homeostasis

non-shivering thermogenesis

a process by which the body generates heat in response to cold temperature exposure without shivering

PO2

the part of barometric pressure exerted only by oxygen molecules in the air

radiation

energy that moves form one place to another as waves

respiratory rate

the number of breaths per minute

shivering

involuntary contractions of skeletal muscle that produce heat

stroke volume

the amount of blood being ejected from the heart with each contraction

tachycardia

heart rate over 100 beats per minute

tidal volume

the size of each breath

vasoconstriction

the narrowing of blood vessels (caused by contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of blood vessel) - to warm the body up

vasodilation

the widening of blood vessels (caused by relaxation of the smooth muscle in the wall of blood vessel) - to cool the body down

proximal

closer to point of attachment e.g shoulder proximal to elbow

distal

further away from limb attachment e.g hand is distal to shoulder

superior

above or closer to the head e.g sternum superior to tarsals

inferior

below or further away from the head e.g tarsals inferior to abdomen

medial

closer to body’s midline e.g nose is medial to ears

lateral

further from body’s midline e.g ears lateral to nose

anterior

in front or nearer to surface of body e.g sternum anterior to heart

posterior

behind or nearer to the back e.g heart is posterior to sternum

function of long bones

used for movement and weight support e.g femur

function of short bones

provides stability and some movement e.g tarsals

function of flat bones

provides protection

function of periosteum

provides nourishment

function of spongy bone

reduces weight whilst keeping strength

function of articular cartilage

smooth movement and absorbs shock

function of tendons

attaches muscle to bone to enable body movement

function of ligaments

connects bone to bone, stabilises joints and guides range of motion

function of cartilage

provides structural support and ensures joint moves within safe range

joint

point where a structure of skeletal joins

flexion

to bend

extension

straighten