physiology

• What is the definition of a muscle according to the Oxford Dictionary?

  A band or bundle of fibrous tissue that has the ability to contract
• What are the three main parts of a muscle?

  Origin, Muscle Belly, Insertion
• What is the contractile unit of the myofibril?

  Sarcomere
• What are the components of the sarcomere?

  I Band, A Band, H Band, M Line, Actin, Myosin, Tropomyosin, Troponin
• What is the function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ)?

  Site of transmission of action potential from nerve to muscle
• What are the three parts of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ)?

  Presynaptic, postsynaptic, and synaptic cleft
• What are the energy sources for muscle contraction?

  ATP, Creatine Phosphate, Carbohydrate
• What is the primary energy source for muscle contraction?

  Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
• What is the sliding filament theory?

  Actin and myosin filaments slide past each other to produce muscle contraction
• What are the factors that affect muscle contraction force?

  Muscle fiber type, Motor unit recruitment, Muscle cross-sectional area, Angle of pennation, Length-Tension relationship
• What is the difference between Type I and Type II muscle fibers?

  Type I fibers are slow-twitch and oxidative, while Type II fibers are fast-twitch and glycolytic
• What is the principle of specificity in training?

  The adaptation of the body or change in physical fitness is specific to the type of training undertaken
• What is the principle of overload in training?

  The load itself, intensity or duration of loading needs to be more than currently tolerated to elicit physiological changes
• What is the principle of reversibility in training?

  Adaptations secondary to resistance training are reversible and reverse when training stops
• What are the characteristics of Type I, Type IIa, and Type IIx muscle fibers?


  • Type I: slow-twitch, oxidative, slow contraction speed, slow speed of fatigue
  • Type IIa: fast-twitch, oxidative, fast contraction speed, fast speed of fatigue
  • Type IIx: fast-twitch, glycolytic, fast contraction speed, fast speed of fatigue
• What are the energy sources for muscle contraction?

  • ATP: primary energy source
  • Creatine Phosphate: anaerobic energy source
  • Carbohydrate: aerobic energy source
• What is the specific characteristic of Type I muscle fibers?

  Slow-twitch, oxidative, slow contraction speed, slow speed of fatigue
• What is the specific energy source for high-intensity, short-duration activities?

  ATP and Creatine Phosphate
• What is the principle of specificity in training, and how does it apply to muscle contraction?

  The adaptation of the body or change in physical fitness is specific to the type of training undertaken, and this applies to muscle contraction by targeting specific muscle fibers and energy systems
• What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

  Central and Peripheral
• What are the components of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

  Brain and Spinal Cord
• What is the function of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

  Receives, processes, and responds to sensory information
• What are the components of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

  Cranial nerves, Spinal nerves, Peripheral nerves, Brachial plexus, and Lumbosacral plexus
• What is the function of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

  Conducts information from and to the Central Nervous System (CNS)
• What are the two main divisions of the motor PNS?

  Somatic and Autonomic
• What is the function of the Somatic Nervous System?

  Controls voluntary movements
• What are the two main divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

  Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
• What is the function of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

  Prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses
• What is the function of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

  Regulates 'rest and digest' responses
• What are Afferent pathways?

  Ascending pathways that bring sensory information from the peripheral tissues to the CNS
• What are Efferent pathways?

  Descending pathways that carry motor output from the CNS
• What is the function of the Brain?

  Receives, processes, and responds to sensory information
• What are the different parts of the Brain?

  Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital, and Cerebellum
• What is the function of the Frontal lobe?

  Reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language
• What is the function of the Parietal lobe?

  Processes sensory information (touch, temperature, pain)
• What is the function of the Temporal lobe?

  Hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language
• What is the function of the Occipital lobe?

  Processes visual information
• What is the function of the Cerebellum?

  Maintenance of balance and posture, motor learning, coordination, and cognitive processes
• What is the function of the Spinal Cord?

  Sends motor commands from the brain to the body and sends sensory information from the body to the brain
• What is the function of the Spinal Cord in relation to reflexes?

  Coordinates reflexes