58 of the SEHS glossary’s terms, each with the part of the syllabus where you first meet it.
An isotonic contraction in which the muscle lengthens while producing tension, because the load is greater than the muscle force; it controls or brakes a movement.
A force whose line of action does not pass through the centre of mass of a body, producing rotation (angular motion) as well as linear motion.
A theory of motor learning combining ecological psychology and dynamical systems theory, explaining skilled movement as emerging from performer–environment interaction guided by directly perceived information.
A model of motor learning in which movement emerges from the interaction of performer, task and environment, and learning is the improving coupling of perception and action without stored programmes.
A theory of perception and action, developed from Gibson's work, proposing that performers perceive information in the environment directly and use it to guide action without stored representations.
A muscle or gland that receives a signal from a control centre and produces a response that changes a regulated variable.
The part of the peripheral nervous system that carries nerve impulses from the central nervous system to effectors (muscles and glands); also called the motor division.
The force applied to a lever to make it rotate; in the human body, the force produced by a contracting muscle at its insertion.
The perpendicular distance from the fulcrum of a lever to the line of action of the effort.
A motivational climate in which success is defined as winning and outperforming others, with public comparison, recognition mainly for the most able, rivalry between teammates and punishment of mistakes; also called a performance climate.
A goal orientation in which a person judges success and competence in a norm-referenced way, by outperforming others or performing equally well with less effort.
Defensive behaviour, such as blaming others, rejecting feedback or withdrawing effort, that a person uses to protect their self-esteem and the appearance of ability when it is challenged.
The energy stored in a body that has been stretched, compressed or bent, released as it returns to its original shape, as in a vaulting pole, tendon or trampoline bed.
A mineral that dissolves in body fluids to form charged ions, such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium, which control fluid balance and nerve and muscle function.
The recording of the electrical activity produced by muscle fibres when they are activated, usually with electrodes on the skin, to show when a muscle is active and how strongly.
A series of proteins on the inner membrane of the mitochondria that uses hydrogen from the Krebs cycle to resynthesise most of the ATP in aerobic metabolism, with oxygen accepting the hydrogen to form water.
An upward movement of a body part in the frontal plane, such as raising the shoulder girdle in a shrug.
Raising an injured limb above the level of the heart so that gravity helps fluid drain away from the injured area and reduces swelling.
Coping strategies that do not change the stressor but regulate the emotional response to it, such as relaxation, self-talk, reframing and seeking emotional social support.
The opposite pole of neuroticism, describing an individual’s tendency to stay calm and maintain emotional balance in stressful or demanding situations.
A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream, such as the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and testes.
The body's endocrine glands and the hormones they release into the blood, which together regulate processes such as metabolism, growth, water balance and reproduction.
The capacity to do work, measured in joules (J); it can be transformed from one form to another, such as kinetic, potential, chemical or thermal, but not created or destroyed.
The dietary energy left for the body's other functions after the energy cost of exercise is subtracted, per kilogram of fat-free mass per day: (energy intake − exercise energy expenditure) ÷ fat-free mass.
The relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure; when the two are equal, body energy stores and body mass stay stable.
The relative contributions of the phosphagen, glycolytic and oxidative systems to ATP resynthesis, which change with the intensity and duration of an activity; all three systems contribute at all times.
The total energy used by the body over a period, made up of basal metabolic rate, the thermic effect of food and the energy used in physical activity.
The total chemical energy taken into the body in food and drink over a period, from carbohydrate, protein, fat and alcohol, usually in kJ or kcal per day.
A series of chemical reactions in the body that releases energy from a fuel and uses it to resynthesise ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate: the phosphagen, glycolytic or oxidative system.
Features of the surroundings that shape movement, either physical (surface, temperature, wind, light) or sociocultural (family, peers, culture, access to facilities).
A hormone released by the adrenal medulla in response to sympathetic stimulation, which raises heart rate, stroke volume, blood pressure and blood glucose; also called adrenaline.
The expanded end of a long bone, made of spongy bone containing red marrow inside a thin shell of compact bone, covered by articular cartilage where it forms a joint.
The scientific study and design of equipment, tasks and environments to fit the people who use them, in order to improve efficiency, comfort and safety.
Lines drawn above and below a plotted mean to show the variability or uncertainty in the data, usually ±1 standard deviation, ±1 standard error or the range.
A hormone produced mainly by the kidneys, in response to low blood oxygen and stimulated by testosterone, which increases red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
An amino acid the body cannot make in sufficient amounts, so it must be supplied by the diet; nine of the twenty amino acids are essential.
The state of normal body water content, within the small daily variation of about 1% of body mass found in a healthy person.
A positive form of stress in which a demand is perceived as a challenge or opportunity, producing excitement and energy that can improve motivation and performance.
Heat loss as water, mainly sweat, changes from liquid to vapour on the skin or in the airways; the main route of heat loss during exercise and the only one when air is hotter than skin.
A movement of the foot in the frontal plane that turns the sole outwards, away from the midline of the body.
The volume of oxygen consumed after exercise above the resting level, used to return the body to its pre-exercise state; it has a fast and a slow component.
Physical activity that is planned, structured and repetitive, done to improve or maintain one or more components of fitness or health.
The planning of an individualised exercise programme, specifying frequency, intensity, time and type of exercise and how they progress, based on a person's health, fitness, goals and preferences.
Microscopic damage to muscle fibres and connective tissue after unaccustomed or eccentric exercise, causing temporary strength loss, inflammation, raised creatine kinase and delayed-onset muscle soreness.
The maximum volume of air that can be breathed out after a normal expiration; about 1.2 L in a young adult man.
A longer written answer worth several marks, usually to a discuss, evaluate or explain question, in which linked points, evidence and a reasoned judgment are developed in continuous prose.
A movement in the sagittal plane that increases the angle between the bones at a joint, returning a body part towards the anatomical position, such as straightening the knee.
A visual or auditory stimulus in the environment, such as crowd noise, cameras or an opponent's comments, that draws attention away from task-relevant cues.
Attention directed outside the body, to cues in the environment or to the intended effect of a movement, such as the flight of the ball or the target.
Imagery from a third-person perspective, in which the performer watches themselves performing the skill as if on video or from the stands.
The least self-determined type of extrinsic motivation, in which behaviour is controlled by external rewards, punishments or demands and feels like having little or no choice (“I must”).
A feature of the environment in which an individual exercises or competes that increases the risk of injury, such as equipment, surface, weather, rules, opponents or coaching.
A skill whose timing and rate are controlled by the environment, such as an opponent, the ball or a starting signal, for example receiving a volleyball serve.
The fluid outside the cells, about one-third of total body water, made up mainly of interstitial fluid and blood plasma, in which sodium and chloride are the main ions.
A Big Five trait describing the extent to which an individual draws energy from interacting with other people and seeks stimulation, being sociable, talkative, assertive and energetic.
Control of the heart from outside it, by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and by hormones such as epinephrine, which change the rate of SA node firing and the force of contraction.
Feedback from an outside source, such as a coach, team-mate, video or timing system, added to what the performer senses for themselves.
Motivation to take part in an activity as a means to an end, for an outcome separate from the activity such as a reward, praise, status, avoiding punishment or a health benefit.