module 3 : Concepts of Biomechanics Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, principles of biomechanics, laws of motion, levers, and muscular dynamics from Chapter 5 of the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer manual.

Biomechanics

The study of the mechanical laws governing movement of living organisms.

Kinesiology

The study of the mechanics of human movement.

Anatomical Position

The anatomically neutral body position facing forward with the arms at the sides of the body and palms and toes pointing straight ahead.

Anterior or Ventral

Front of the body or toward the front relative to another reference point.

Posterior or Dorsal

Back of the body or toward the back relative to another reference point.

Superior

Above a reference point.

Inferior

Below a reference point.

Proximal

Position closer to the center of the body relative to a reference point.

Distal

Position farther from the reference point.

Medial

Position relatively closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Position relatively farther from the midline of the body.

Prone

Lying facedown.

Supine

Lying on one's backside.

Deep

Further beneath the surface relative to another reference point.

Superficial

Closer to the surface relative to another reference point.

Unilateral

Refers to only one side.

Bilateral

Refers to both sides.

Ipsilateral

On the same side.

Contralateral

On the opposite side.

Caudal

Toward the bottom.

Cephalic

Toward the head.

Volar

Relating to the palm of the hand or sole of the foot.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline.

Flexion

Movement decreasing the angle between two body parts.

Extension

Movement increasing the angle between two body parts.

Frontal Plane

An imaginary line that divides the body into anterior and posterior halves.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary line that divides the body into inferior and superior halves.

Range of Motion (ROM)

The measurement of movement around a specific joint or body part.

Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Center of Gravity

The hypothetical position in the body where the combined mass appears to be concentrated and the point around which gravity appears to act.

Base of Support

The area beneath an object or person that includes every point of contact that the object or person makes with the supporting surface.

Gravity

The attraction between objects and the Earth.

Muscular Force

Involves the contraction of a muscle while exerting a force and performing work. It can be concentric (shortening), eccentric (lengthening), or isometric (tension without joint movement).

Dynamic Balance

The ability to remain upright and balanced when the body and/or arms and legs are in motion.

Static Balance

The ability to remain upright and balanced when the body is at rest.

Balance

An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to maintain its center of gravity within a base of support.

Stability

The ability to control and maintain control of joint movement or body position.

Weight

The gravitational force of attraction on an object.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object.

Line of Gravity

A vertical line straight through the center of gravity.

Joint Mobility

The degree of movement around a joint before movement is restricted by surrounding tissues.

Joint Stability

The ability of the muscles around a joint to control movement or hold the joint in a fixed (stable) position.

Laws of Motion

The laws of physics describing movement.

Force

The interaction that creates work or physical change. Its components are magnitude, direction, point of application, and line of action.

Inertia

The resistance to action or change and describes the acceleration and deceleration of the human body.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity.

Deceleration

A special type of acceleration where a person or object is slowing down.

Velocity

The speed of an object and the direction it takes while moving.

Force-Velocity Curve

A representation of the inverse relationship between force and velocity in muscle contraction.

Momentum

The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.

Ground Reaction Force (GRF)

The force the ground exerts on a body it is in contact with.

Speed

The ability to move the body in one direction as fast as possible.

Friction

The resistance of relative motion that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

Compression Force

The force of two surfaces pressing toward one another.

Tensile Force

The force when two surfaces pull apart from one another.

Shear Force

The force of two surfaces moving across one another.

Muscular Contraction

The shortening or resistance to lengthening of a muscle fiber.

Linear Motion

Movement along a line, straight or curved.

Angular Motion

Rotation around an axis.

Axis

Point of rotation around which a lever moves.

Displacement

The distance an object is displaced from a starting point.

Distance

The total or sum of the length an object travels.

Angular Displacement

The change of location of an object that is rotating about an axis.

Linear Displacement

The distance an object moves in a straight line.

Kinetics

The study of forces acting on a mechanism.

Mechanical Advantage

The ratio of force that creates meaningful movement compared to the force applied to generate the movement.

Work

Force times distance measured in foot-pounds, expressed as $W = F \times D$.

Power

The combination of strength and speed—the ability for a muscle to generate maximal tension as quickly as possible.

Mechanical Work

The amount of energy transferred by a force, the product of force and distance.

Levers

A rigid or semirigid bar rotating around a fixed point when force is applied to one end.

Fulcrum

The point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots.

Effort Arm

The portion of the lever arm between the applied effort and the axis.

Resistance Arm

The portion of the lever arm between the load and the axis.

Moment Arm

The perpendicular distance between the fulcrum and the line of the force being applied.

Lever Arm

The rigid bar portion of a lever that rotates around the fulcrum.

First-Class Lever

A class of lever where the fulcrum (axis) is located between the effort and the load (resistance).

Second-Class Lever

A class of lever where the load (resistance) is located between the fulcrum (axis) and the effort.

Third-Class Lever

A class of lever where the effort is between the fulcrum (axis) and the load (resistance).

Torque

Force applied that results in rotation about an axis.

Rotary Motion

The movement around a fixed axis moving in a curved path.

Force Arm

The distance between the fulcrum and the force or load application in a lever.

Origin

The proximal muscular attachment point to a bone.

Insertion

The distal muscular attachment point to a bone.

Agonist

The primary muscle used for a mechanical movement.

Antagonist

Muscle(s) opposing the mechanical movement of a prime mover.

Synergists

Muscle(s) supporting the mechanical movement of a prime mover.

Sherrington's Law of Reciprocal Inhibition

A law that states that for every muscle activation, there is a corresponding inhibition of the opposing muscle.

Stabilizer Muscles

The muscles playing the role of stabilizing or minimizing joint movement.

Length-Tension Relationship

The amount of tension a muscle can produce with respect to its length.

Force-Couple Relationship

Two or more muscles acting in different directions that influence the rotation of a joint in a specific direction.

Muscle Synergies

The activation of a group of muscles to generate movement around a particular joint.

Innervation

The distribution or supply of nerves.