C.2 - Nervous System

What is the human movement system?

The nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems working together to create movement.

What is the kinetic chain?

The linked system of nerves, muscles, and joints that work together to produce movement.

Why does the nervous system matter in training?

It controls movement, coordination, balance, posture, and muscle activation.

What are the three main jobs of the nervous system?

Sensory, integrative, and motor function.

What is sensory function?

The body detects information such as pressure, stretch, balance, pain, or joint position.

What is integrative function?

The brain and spinal cord process sensory information and decide what response is needed.

What is motor function?

The nervous system sends signals to muscles to create movement.

What is the CNS?

The central nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord.

What is the PNS?

The peripheral nervous system, made up of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

What is the somatic nervous system?

The part of the nervous system that controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

The part of the nervous system that controls automatic functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

The “fight or flight” system used during stress, hard exercise, or high intensity training.

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

The “rest and digest” system used for recovery, relaxation, digestion, and sleep.

Why are cooldowns useful for the nervous system?

They help the body shift from a stressed state toward recovery.

What is a neuron?

A nerve cell that sends and receives information throughout the body.

What are sensory neurons?

Nerves that carry information from the body to the brain and spinal cord.

What are motor neurons?

Nerves that carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.

What does afferent mean?

Information travelling toward the central nervous system.

What does efferent mean?

Information travelling away from the central nervous system to the muscles.

What is proprioception?

The body’s ability to sense joint position and movement.

Why is proprioception important for clients?

It helps improve balance, technique, joint control, and injury prevention.

What are mechanoreceptors?

Sensory receptors that detect touch, pressure, stretch, tension, and movement.

Where are mechanoreceptors found?

In muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and skin.

What are muscle spindles?

Receptors in muscles that detect stretch and how quickly a muscle is lengthening.

What is the stretch reflex?

A protective reflex where a muscle contracts after being stretched quickly.

Why should stretches not be forced?

Fast or aggressive stretching can cause the nervous system to tighten the muscle instead of relaxing it.

What are Golgi tendon organs?

Receptors near the muscle-tendon area that detect muscle tension and force.

What do Golgi tendon organs help with?

They help protect muscles and tendons from excessive tension.

What are joint receptors?

Receptors around joints that detect joint position, pressure, speed, and end-range movement.

What is the key takeaway for PTs?

Good training improves nervous system control so clients move better, lift safer, balance better, and reduce injury risk.