NASM CPT Exam Flash Cards - Section 3: Basic and Applied Sciences

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering foundational exercise science concepts, anatomy, bioenergetics, and nutrition from the NASM CPT study guide.

Human movement system (HMS)

The collective components and structures that work together to move the body, consisting of the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems.

Neuron

A specialized cell that serves as the functional unit of the nervous system, composed of a cell body, axon, and dendrites.

Afferent pathway

A sensory pathway that relays information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Efferent pathway

A motor pathway that relays information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Mechanoreceptors

Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces such as touch and pressure within tissues and transmit signals through sensory nerves.

Somatic nervous system

A division of the peripheral nervous system consisting of nerves that serve outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle, largely responsible for voluntary movement control.

Autonomic nervous system

A division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies neural input to organs running involuntary processes, such as circulating blood and digesting food.

Sympathetic nervous system

A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that acts to increase neural activity and put the body in a heightened state.

Parasympathetic nervous system

A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that acts to decrease neural activity and place the body in a more relaxed state.

Proprioception

The body’s intrinsic ability to naturally sense its general orientation and relative position of its parts in space.

Muscle spindles

Sensory receptors located within muscle fibers sensitive to changes in muscle length and the rate of that change.

Golgi tendon organ (GTO)

A specialized sensory receptor located where skeletal muscle fibers insert into tendons, sensitive to changes in muscular tension and the rate of tension change.

Axial skeleton

A division of the skeletal system encompassing approximately $80$ bones, consisting of the skull, rib cage, and vertebral column.

Appendicular skeleton

A division of the skeletal system encompassing approximately $126$ bones, consisting of the arms, legs, and pelvic girdle.

Remodeling

The process by which bone tissue is constantly renewed through the resorption and formation of bone structure.

Osteoclasts

Specialized cells that break down and remove old bone tissue during bone remodeling.

Osteoblasts

Specialized cells that form and lay down new bone tissue during bone remodeling.

Osteokinematics

The observable, visible movement of a limb.

Arthrokinematics

The movement occurring at the joint surface itself, consisting of three major types: roll, slide, and spin.

Synovial joints

Joints characterized by having a fluid-filled joint capsule.

Nonsynovial joints

Joints that have no joint capsule, fibrous connective tissue, or cartilage in the uniting structure.

Epimysium

The inner layer of fascia that directly surrounds an entire skeletal muscle; commonly referred to as the deep fascia.

Perimysium

Connective tissue that directly surrounds a muscle fascicle.

Endomysium

Connective tissue that wraps around individual muscle fibers within a fascicle.

Tendons

Structures of connective tissue that connect muscles to bones; injuries resulting from overstretching or tearing are called strains.

Ligaments

Structures of connective tissue that connect bones to bones; injuries resulting from overstretching or tearing are called sprains.

Sarcomere

The structural unit of a myofibril composed of actin and myosin filaments located between two Z-lines.

Sliding filament theory

The model of muscle contraction wherein thick myosin and thin actin filaments slide past one another to shorten the entire length of the sarcomere.

Type I muscle fibers

Slow-twitch muscle fibers that are small in size, produce lower amounts of force, and are fatigue resistant.

Type II muscle fibers

Fast-twitch muscle fibers that are larger in size, generate higher amounts of force, and fatigue quickly.

Sinoatrial (SA) node

Located in the right atrium, this structure initiates an electrical signal causing the heart to beat and serves as the primary pacemaker.

Atrioventricular (AV) node

A node located between the atria and ventricles that delays the electrical impulse from the SA node before passing it to the ventricles.

Stroke volume

The amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each individual contraction, calculated as end-diastolic volume minus end-systolic volume.

Cardiac output

The overall performance and volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as $\text{heart rate} \times \text{stroke volume}$.

Bradycardia

A condition in which the resting heart rate drops below $60\,\text{beats per minute}$.

Tachycardia

A condition in which the resting heart rate exceeds $100\,\text{beats per minute}$.

Venous pooling

The accumulation of blood within the extremities due to slow venous return or backflow.

Valsalva maneuver

The process of expiring against a closed windpipe to create intra-abdominal pressure and increase spinal stability.

Tachypnea

A respiratory rate that is excessively fast, defined as greater than $24\,\text{breaths per minute}$.

Bradypnea

A respiratory rate that is excessively slow, defined as fewer than $8\,\text{breaths per minute}$.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath or labored, uncomfortable breathing.

Lipolysis

The breakdown and metabolic utilization of stored fat for cellular energy.

Gluconeogenesis

The biological process of forming glucose from noncarbohydrate sources, primarily proteins and fats.

Calcitonin

A thyroid hormone that helps the body utilize calcium properly to assist in maintaining bone mineral density.

Sagittal plane

An imaginary anatomical plane that bisects the body into right and left halves, encompassing movements such as flexion and extension.

Frontal plane

An imaginary anatomical plane that bisects the body into front and back halves, encompassing movements such as abduction and adduction.

Transverse plane

An imaginary anatomical plane that bisects the body into upper and lower halves, encompassing movements such as internal and external rotation.

Isotonic muscle action

A muscle action where force is produced, muscle tension is developed, and joint movement occurs, subdivided into concentric and eccentric actions.

Isometric muscle action

A muscle action where contractile tension is developed without a change in muscle length and without visible joint motion.

Isokinetic muscle action

A muscle action where the speed of movement remains fixed while resistance varies in direct proportion to the muscular force exerted.

Agonist

The prime mover muscle that provides the primary force for a specific joint movement.

Synergist

A muscle that assists the prime mover (agonist) to produce a specific movement pattern.

Stabilizer

A muscle that contracts isometrically to support and stabilize the trunk and joints while body movement occurs.

Antagonist

A muscle located on the opposite side of a joint that directly opposes the action of an agonist muscle.

Reciprocal inhibition

The simultaneous contraction of an agonist muscle and the relaxation of its functional antagonist via an inhibitory neural signal.

Altered reciprocal inhibition

A neuromuscular phenomenon occurring when an overactive agonist muscle decreases the neural drive to its functional antagonist.

Force-couple relationship

The synergistic action of multiple muscles working together to generate coordinated movement around a joint.

Motor control

The process by which the central nervous system integrates internal and external sensory information with previous experience to produce a motor response.

Motor learning

The integration of motor control processes through practice and experience, resulting in a relatively permanent change in skilled motor behavior.

Motor development

The cumulative change in skilled motor behavior over time throughout an individual's life span.

ATP-PC system

An anaerobic energy system that generates ATP very rapidly, supporting maximal activity for approximately $10\text{--}15\,\text{seconds}$.

Glycolytic system

An anaerobic metabolic pathway occurring in the cytosol that converts glucose into pyruvate and ATP, lasting approximately $30\text{ to }60\,\text{seconds}$.

Oxidative system

An aerobic energy pathway that utilizes oxygen to convert dietary substrates into ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

Resting metabolic rate (RMR)

The minimum rate of energy expenditure (calories) required to maintain vital bodily functions while fasted and at complete rest.

Thermic effect of food (TEF)

The amount of energy expended by the body to digest, absorb, and metabolize ingested nutrients.

Nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)

The energy expended through spontaneous, routine daily activities outside of planned structured exercise, such as walking, fidgeting, and stairs.

Exercise activity thermogenesis (EAT)

The calories expended specifically through structured physical training or purposeful exercise sessions.

Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR)

The suggested intake ranges for macronutrients: $10\%\text{ to }35\%$ of calories from protein, $45\%\text{ to }65\%$ from carbohydrates, and $20\%\text{ to }35\%$ from fats.

Ergogenic aid

A dietary supplement or substance specifically utilized to enhance athletic performance or improve body composition.

Tolerable upper intake level (UL)

The maximum daily intake level of a vitamin or mineral unlikely to pose a risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population.