Lab Midterm Study Guide: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Exercise Prescription (copy)

Musculoskeletal System

The functional integration of the muscular and skeletal systems, comprising bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting soft tissues.

Muscular Strength

The maximal amount of force a muscle can generate with a single maximum effort, measured as One-Repetition Maximum ($1\text{RM}$).

Muscular Endurance

The capacity of a muscle to maintain a submaximal contraction or perform repeated contractions against resistance over time.

Muscular Power

The ability to exert force rapidly across a given displacement, calculated as $\text{Power} = \text{Force} \times \text{Velocity}$.

Sarcopenia

Age-associated involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, affecting motor functional performance.

Axial Skeleton

The central mechanical axis of the body, including the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Appendicular Skeleton

The bones of the upper and lower extremities and the shoulder and pelvic girdles.

Neutral Spine

The posture that preserves the natural anatomical curvatures of the spine without excessive flattening or exaggeration.

Agonist

The primary muscle generating the mechanical torque required for a specific joint action.

Antagonist

The muscle located opposite the agonist, which relaxes to allow motion or contracts to decelerate joint displacement.

Synarthrosis

An immoveable joint, such as cranial sutures.

Diarthrosis

A freely moveable joint permitting extensive angular displacement, encompassing all synovial joints.

Concentric Contraction

Contractile elements shorten while generating force against an external load.

Eccentric Contraction

Contractile elements generate dynamic tension while elongating under load.

FITT Principle

A framework for exercise prescription: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type.

Reversibility Principle

The phenomenon where muscle strength or fitness diminishes due to disuse or inactivity.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the cross-sectional area and volume of individual muscle fibers in response to mechanical overload.

Atrophy

A reduction in the cross-sectional area and volume of muscle fibers due to chronic unloading, immobilization, or inactivity.

Dorsiflexion

The motion at the ankle joint that raises the foot upwards toward the shin.

Plantarflexion

The motion at the ankle joint that points the toes downward.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between two articulating bones.

Extension

Movement that increases the angle between articulating bones, restoring the neutral position.

Cardinal Planes of Human Motion

Three mutually perpendicular planes: Sagittal (flexion/extension), Frontal (abduction/adduction), Transverse (rotation).

Push-Up Protocol

Muscular endurance test where the participant lowers and raises the torso from a plank position.

Vertical Jump Height

Measured by subtracting the standing reach from the maximal jump reach.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The rate at which the body expends energy at rest, influenced by lean muscle mass.

Partial Curl-Up Test

Muscular endurance test measuring the ability to perform curl-ups in rhythm with a metronome.

Continuous Squat Test

Muscular endurance test performing continuous bodyweight squats until form is compromised.