GCSE Physical Education Vocabulary Review

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions relevant to the GCSE Physical Education specification.

Ability

Inherited, stable traits that determine an individual’s potential to learn or acquire a skill.

Adaptability

The potential to change with ease.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement towards the midline of the body.

Adrenaline

Natural hormone released to speed heart rate up.

Aerobic

Exercise in the presence of or using oxygen.

Aerobic training zone

The heart rate zone to improve the aerobic system, calculated by 220 minus age and working at 60-80% of maximum heart rate.

Aggression

A deliberate intent to harm or injure another person, either physically or mentally.

Agility

The ability to move and change direction quickly while maintaining control.

Agonist

The muscle or group responsible for the movement.

Altitude training

Training at high elevations where there is less oxygen, leading to increased red blood cell production.

Altitude sickness

Nausea caused by training at high altitude.

Alveoli

Air sacs in the lungs.

Amateur

Someone who participates in an activity as a hobby rather than for financial gain.

Anabolic steroids

Artificially produced male hormones that promote muscle and bone growth.

Anaerobic

Working in the absence of enough or without oxygen.

Antagonist

Acts to produce the opposite action to the agonist; they work in antagonistic pairs.

Arousal

A physical and mental state of alertness or readiness.

Articulating bones

Where two or more bones meet to allow movement at a joint.

Artery

Blood vessel with small lumen and thick muscular walls that carries blood away from the heart.

Axis

An imaginary line through the body around which it rotates.

Backflow

The backwards flow of blood, prevented by valves in the veins.

Balance

The maintenance of the centre of mass over the base of support.

Balanced diet

A diet that provides the right amount of calories and different food types for suitable nutrients.

Beta blockers

Drugs that steady nerves by controlling heart rate, having a calming effect.

Blood doping

A technique to increase red blood cell count in the body.

Blood pressure

The pressure that blood is under, with types being systolic and diastolic.

Body composition

The percentage of body weight which is fat and non-fat.

Body mass index (BMI)

A measure using height and weight to determine healthy weight.

Calorie

A unit measuring heat or energy production in the body.

Capillary

Thin blood vessel allowing exchange of materials between blood and tissues.

Carbohydrate

The body's preferred energy source.

Cardiac cycle

The process of the heart going through the stages of systole and diastole.

Cardiac output

The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one minute.

Cardio-vascular endurance

The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen to working muscles.

Cartilage

Strong connective tissue acting as a buffer between bones.

Circuit training

A series of exercise stations interspersed with rest periods.

Circumduction

Turning or circular motion around a joint.

Closed season

A period of rest and gentle aerobic exercise for players.

Commercialisation

Managing or exploiting an activity to make a profit.

Coordination

The ability to use different parts of the body together.

Competition season

The peak playing season with regular matches.

Continuous training

Training for a sustained period without rest.

Contract to compete

An unwritten agreement to follow both written and unwritten rules of sport.

Deep breathing

A relaxation technique involving exaggerated breaths.

Dehydration

Excessive loss of body water.

Direct aggression

Aggression involving physical contact.

Diuretic drugs

Drugs that remove fluid from the body.

Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

Muscle pain felt after exercise.

Dorsiflexion

Raising of the toes towards the tibia.

Embolism

Blockage of a blood vessel.

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)

Refers to recovery oxygen needed after exercise.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone increasing red blood cell count.

Etiquette

Unwritten rules usually observed in activities.

Expire

To breathe out.

Extrinsic feedback

Feedback received from outside the performer.

Extension

Movement that increases the angle at a joint.

Extrinsic motivation

The drive to perform well for external rewards.

Extrovert

Sociable, active, and outgoing personality type.

Fartlek training

Training using different intensities or terrains.

Fatigue

Extreme tiredness from exertion.

Feedback

Information received about performance.

Fitness

The ability to meet the demands of the environment.

FITT

Framework for increasing workout intensity: Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle at a joint.

Flexibility

The range of movements possible at a joint.

Gamesmanship

Bending the rules to gain advantage.

Goal setting (SMART goals)

Method to increase motivation using Specific, Measurable, Accepted, Realistic, and Time-bound criteria.

Goal types

Categories of goals: Performance goals and Outcome goals.

Guidance

Methods to convey information to a performer.

Haemoglobin

Substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Health

Complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Heart attack

Blocked flow of oxygen-rich blood to heart muscle.

Heart chambers

Right and left atria and ventricles.

Heart rate

Number of times the heart beats per minute.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT)

Exercise strategy alternating intense anaerobic exercise with recovery periods.

Hooliganism

Disorderly and aggressive behavior by sports spectators.

Home field advantage

Gaining advantage from familiar surroundings during events.

Hydration

Having enough water for normal bodily function.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hypertrophy

Enlargement of an organ or tissue.

Indirect aggression

Aggression not involving physical contact.

Information processing

Making decisions based on gathered data.

Inspire

To breathe in.

Interval training

Periods of work followed by rest periods.

Intrinsic feedback

Feedback received through the body's receptors.

Intrinsic motivation

Inner drive to achieve for personal satisfaction.

Introvert

Reserved and shy personality type.

Isometric contraction

Muscle contraction where length does not change.

Isotonic contraction

Muscle contractions involving movement.

Level playing field

Equal conditions for all competitors.

Lever

Rigid bar (bone) that turns about an axis for movement.

Lifestyle

Refers to sedentary lifestyle.

Masculinity

Displaying masculine stereotypical behavior.

Maximal heart rate

Calculated by 220 minus age.

Mechanical advantage

Efficiency of a lever calculated by effort divided by resistance arm.

Media

Means of mass communication.

Mental health and well-being

State of well-being enabling individuals to cope and contribute to their community.

Mental rehearsal

Imagining performing a skill perfectly before attempting it.

Minerals

Inorganic substances aiding bodily functions.