Exercise Physiology & Lab

These flashcards cover key vocabulary from the lecture on exercise physiology, including definitions of important concepts and terms.

Physiology

The study of how the body functions.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of the body's internal environment within dynamic equilibrium.

Feedback

The process by which an effector's response influences the magnitude of stimulus returning it to homeostasis.

Negative feedback

A response that moves a variable in the opposite direction of the stimulus.

Positive feedback

A process that reinforces the stimulus, moving the variable in the same direction until a climatic event occurs.

Exercise

Voluntary or planned deviation from homeostasis through repeated bouts of physical activity.

Exercise Physiology

The study of how bodily functions are altered when physically active.

Acute Responses

Immediate changes that occur during a single bout of exercise.

Chronic Adaptations

Long-term changes in the body's efficiency and capacity from repeated exercise exposure.

Physiological Gradients

Movement from areas of high concentration to low concentration; essential for processes like ion movement and blood flow.

Rate Limiting Factor

Factors that cause an exercise bout to end, such as fatigue, heat, or dehydration.

Maximal Oxygen Consumption

The maximum amount of oxygen that can be utilized to produce ATP; essential for aerobic endurance.

Fick Equation

VO2 = Q * AVO2_difference; a formula that explains oxygen consumption at the cellular level.

Field Tests

Assessment conducted in less controlled environments to estimate cardiovascular capacity, such as a 1-mile run.

Lab Tests

Controlled assessments using sophisticated equipment to measure specific physiological responses.

Dependent Variable

The outcome measured in an experiment that changes in response to an independent variable.

Independent Variable

The factor manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

P-Value

A statistical measure indicating the probability that observed results are due to chance; a value of 0.05 or lower is typically statistically significant.

T-Test

A statistical test used to determine if there is a significant difference between two means.

Correlation

A statistical measure of the relationship between two variables.