95 of the SEHS glossary’s terms, each with the part of the syllabus where you first meet it.
A mineral that gives bones and teeth their hardness and strength and, as calcium ions released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, triggers muscle contraction; also needed for nerve transmission.
The process of checking a measuring instrument against a known standard and adjusting it, or correcting its readings, so that its measurements are accurate.
The smallest blood vessel, with a wall one cell thick and a lumen about the width of a red blood cell, where substances are exchanged between blood and tissues by diffusion.
A macronutrient made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and built from sugar units; the main fuel for moderate and high-intensity exercise, stored in the body as glycogen.
A strategy of eating a very high-carbohydrate diet (about 10–12 g per kg of body mass per day) for 36–48 hours, with reduced training, to maximise muscle glycogen before an endurance event of over 90 minutes.
The sequence of events in one heartbeat: contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the atria and ventricles, with the opening and closing of the valves.
The volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per minute, equal to heart rate multiplied by stroke volume and measured in L min⁻¹; about 5 L min⁻¹ at rest.
The ability of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained whole-body exercise; its best single measure is VO₂ max.
A region of the medulla oblongata that receives information from receptors and higher brain centres and regulates heart rate, force of contraction and blood vessel diameter through the autonomic nervous system.
Any disease of the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and heart failure; most is caused by atherosclerosis.
The gradual rise in heart rate and fall in stroke volume during prolonged steady-state submaximal exercise, with cardiac output roughly maintained, caused by fluid loss and a rising core temperature.
The organ system made up of the heart, blood vessels and blood, which transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, hormones, heat and waste products around the body.
A firm, flexible connective tissue without blood vessels, made of collagen fibres in a water-rich matrix, that reduces friction, absorbs shock and gives shape; types are hyaline, fibrocartilage and elastic.
A joint in which the bones are joined by cartilage, usually a fibrocartilage pad, allowing slight movement, such as the joints between vertebrae and the pubic symphysis.
A theory proposing that when cognitive anxiety is high, rising physiological arousal improves performance up to a threshold, beyond which performance drops suddenly and dramatically rather than gradually.
A mini-theory of self-determination theory describing relatively stable individual differences in how people orient to their environment, expressed as autonomy, control and impersonal orientations.
A relationship in which a change in one variable directly produces a change in another; shown only by an experiment that changes one variable while controlling the others.
Fatigue originating in the brain and spinal cord, where reduced neural drive recruits fewer motor units or fires them at a lower rate, so less force is produced.
A debated theory that the brain regulates pacing and exercise intensity, using feedback from the body and the expected task duration, so that exercise stops before homeostasis is lost.
The brain and spinal cord, which receive sensory information from the whole body, integrate it and send out instructions to muscles and glands.
The point through which the buoyant force acts, at the centre of the volume of fluid displaced; in a swimmer it usually lies nearer the chest than the centre of mass.
The point at which the whole mass of a body may be considered to be concentrated and through which its weight acts; it moves when body segments move and can lie outside the body.
The component of mental toughness describing the tendency to appraise difficult situations, change and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than as threats.
An appraisal in which an individual perceives that their resources are sufficient to meet the demands of a stressful situation, so it is seen as an opportunity for gain or growth.
A receptor that detects changes in the chemical composition of the blood, mainly carbon dioxide, hydrogen ions (pH) and oxygen; found in the medulla and in the carotid and aortic bodies.
A significant drop in the performance of a well-learned skill under pressure, caused by the perceived importance of the situation.
A long-term structural or functional change in the body that results from repeated training over weeks or months and is lost through detraining.
A roughly 24-hour cycle in body processes such as sleep and wakefulness, core temperature and hormone release, controlled by a clock in the hypothalamus and set mainly by light.
A circular movement in which the distal end of a limb traces a circle while the proximal end stays fixed, combining flexion, abduction, extension and adduction across several planes.
A skill performed in a stable, predictable environment that does not affect it, so the movement can be repeated the same way, for example a basketball free throw.
Control of a movement in which feedback received during the movement is compared with a reference of correctness, so that errors can be corrected while it continues.
The proportion of the variation in the dependent variable explained by a trend line, from 0 to 1 (R²); for a straight line it equals the square of the correlation coefficient.
A number with no units describing how strongly two particular surfaces resist sliding, equal to friction divided by the normal reaction force; the static value (μs) exceeds the dynamic value (μd).
A measure of the elasticity of a collision, the relative velocity of separation divided by the relative velocity of approach, ; no units, between 0 and 1.
The standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the mean (V = 100 × SD ÷ mean), used to compare the relative spread of data sets with different units or means, and the reliability of tests.
The mental component of anxiety, consisting of worry, negative expectations about performance and concern about the consequences of failure.
A mini-theory of self-determination theory explaining how external events such as rewards, feedback and competition affect intrinsic motivation through their effects on perceived autonomy and competence.
Imagery of strategies, tactics, game plans and routines, such as a set play, a race plan or a pre-performance routine.
Imagery used to learn, practise and improve skills (cognitive specific) or strategies and game plans (cognitive general).
The first phase of learning, in which the learner tries to understand the skill; performance is inconsistent with many large errors, and every movement needs conscious attention.
Imagery of performing specific sport skills, such as a tennis serve or a golf swing, used to learn, refine or rehearse them.
A recovery technique in which the body is immersed in cold water, typically 10–15 °C for 10–15 minutes, after exercise to reduce soreness, inflammation and core temperature.
A strong, flexible structural protein forming the fibres of connective tissues; collagen fibres have high tensile strength and stretch very little.
A brief interaction in which two bodies come into contact and exert equal and opposite forces on each other, changing the momentum of each.
A word or phrase in an examination question, such as state, describe, explain or evaluate, that tells the candidate what kind of answer is wanted and the depth of treatment needed.
The component of mental toughness describing an individual’s tendency to set goals and persist with tasks until they are completed, despite obstacles and setbacks.
Dense, solid bone tissue that forms the outer layer of every bone and the walls of the shaft of long bones, resisting bending and compression.
The basic psychological need to feel effective in dealing with the environment and capable of achieving desired outcomes and mastering challenges.
The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, a self-report questionnaire measuring state cognitive anxiety, state somatic anxiety and self-confidence before competition; a revised 17-item version is the CSAI-2R.
The application of external pressure to an injured area, usually with an elastic bandage or tape, to limit bleeding and swelling in the first days after an acute injury.
Tight-fitting garments that apply external pressure to the limbs, worn during or after exercise to reduce swelling and soreness and speed the recovery of muscle function.
The ability to keep attention on the relevant cues of a task for as long as the task requires, resisting the movement of attention elsewhere.
An isotonic contraction in which the muscle shortens while producing tension, because the muscle force is greater than the load.
A traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, neck or body that transmits an impulsive force to the brain, producing a temporary disturbance of brain function rather than visible structural damage.
The transfer of heat by direct contact between the skin and a cooler or hotter solid, liquid or gas, such as cold water or a cold surface.
A biaxial synovial joint, also called an ellipsoid joint, in which an oval convex surface fits an oval concave one, allowing flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and circumduction but not rotation, such as the wrist.
The component of mental toughness describing an individual’s belief in their own abilities to succeed and their assertiveness with others (interpersonal confidence).
An uncontrolled variable that changes along with the independent variable and also affects the dependent variable, so that its effect cannot be separated from the effect being studied.
Tissue that supports, connects and separates other tissues and organs, made of cells in a matrix of protein fibres (mainly collagen) and ground substance; bone, ligament, tendon, cartilage and fascia are examples.
A Big Five trait describing the tendency to control impulses, act in socially acceptable ways and behave in an organised, self-disciplined way that supports goal-directed behaviour.
The principle that the angular momentum of a rotating body stays constant unless an external torque acts, so in flight a smaller moment of inertia gives a faster angular velocity.
The principle that the total momentum of colliding bodies is the same after a collision as before it, provided no external resultant force acts on them.
A method of coaching, based on the ecological model, in which the coach manipulates individual, task and environmental constraints to guide learners towards functional movement solutions.
The interference that occurs when several skills or variations are practised in a random order, which makes practice harder and lowers performance during practice but usually improves retention and transfer.
A skill with no obvious beginning or end, in which the end of one movement cycle is the beginning of the next, such as running, swimming or cycling.
Exercise performed at a steady, submaximal intensity without rest intervals, usually for at least 20 minutes, to develop cardiorespiratory endurance.
A recovery technique alternating short immersions in cold and warm water over several cycles, proposed to cause alternating vasoconstriction and vasodilation that pump blood through muscle.
The component of mental toughness describing perceived control over one’s emotions (emotional control) and the belief that one can influence events and outcomes through one’s own actions (life control).
The part of a homeostatic system, usually in the brain or an endocrine gland, that compares information from receptors with the set point and signals effectors to correct any difference.
A general tendency to focus on rewards, gains, deadlines and approval from others, so that behaviour is organised around external or internal controls.
A variable, other than the independent variable, that could affect the dependent variable and is therefore kept constant or monitored so that a fair test is possible.
A stressor that the individual can change, remove or influence through their own actions, such as their preparation, fitness, tactics or technique.
A training method in which distractions likely in competition are deliberately introduced into practice so that the performer learns to maintain attention despite them.
Motivation in which an activity is done as a means to an end, because of external rewards or pressure or internal pressure such as guilt, so that it feels obligatory rather than freely chosen.
A reward perceived mainly as an attempt to control behaviour, so that the person feels they act to obtain it, which tends to undermine intrinsic motivation.
An injury caused by a direct blow, in which small blood vessels are damaged and blood collects in the tissue, causing a bruise, swelling and pain.
The transfer of heat to or from the skin by a moving fluid such as air or water; heat loss increases with wind speed or movement through water.
A period of low-intensity activity after exercise that allows heart rate, breathing and blood pressure to return gradually towards resting levels and maintains venous return.
A maximal field test in which an individual runs as far as possible in 12 minutes; the distance covered is used to estimate VO₂ max.
A skill-related component of fitness: the ability to move two or more body parts together smoothly, efficiently and accurately.
The constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts an individual makes to manage specific external or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding their resources.
A specific, deliberate thought or action used to manage a stressor or the emotional response to it, such as making a plan, seeking advice, using self-talk or slow breathing.
The temperature of the deep tissues of the body, such as the brain, heart and abdominal organs, normally kept at about 37 ± 1 °C.
The process in which lactate from muscle is carried in the blood to the liver, converted back to glucose and returned to the blood for use as a fuel.
Disease of the heart caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, which reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle and can cause angina and myocardial infarction.
A relationship between two variables in which a change in one is associated with a change in the other; positive when both increase together, negative when one increases as the other decreases.
A number from −1 to +1, usually Pearson's r, that measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables; values near ±1 show a strong relationship.
An enzyme in muscle that breaks down phosphocreatine; its blood concentration rises when muscle fibres are damaged, so it is used as an indirect marker of muscle damage.
A supplement form of creatine that raises muscle creatine and phosphocreatine stores, improving repeated high-intensity performance and recovery between efforts; it often increases body mass.
The moment within a skill that most determines its outcome, such as the instant of release of a ball, take-off from the ground or contact between a foot, bat or racket and a ball.
The temporary link formed when a myosin head binds to a binding site on an actin filament during muscle contraction.
A research design in which every participant completes all conditions, in a randomised or balanced order, so that each participant acts as their own control.
The use of cold, such as ice packs, cold sprays or cold water, to treat an injury, mainly to reduce pain by cooling the tissue and slowing nerve conduction.
Easterbrook's theory that attention narrows as arousal rises: at low arousal irrelevant cues are taken in, at optimal arousal only relevant cues are used, and at high arousal relevant cues are missed.
An injury caused by the repeated application of force, each load too small to cause damage alone, so that microscopic damage builds up faster than the tissue can repair it.