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A
Kinesiology Dictionary
Please use this dictionary of professional kinesiology terms and definitions to help you learn. New terms and definitions will be added on a regular basis for you to learn from. I have decided to extend the dictionary to include terms and definitions from sciences that relate to and support being a kinesiologist or any other healthcare professional. Knowledge itself is power - use the dictionary to empower yourself. Please use the letters in blue below as links to get to the first letter of the term you are looking for. You will be transferred to another page containing those terms and definitions accordingly. Enjoy!
Term | Definition | Associated Field |
|---|---|---|
ATP synthase | Enzyme producing ATP in mitochondria | Biochemistry / Physiology |
ATPase | Enzyme that hydrolyzes ATP | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Abduction | Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Absorption | Process by which nutrients are taken into the bloodstream | Nutrition / Physiology |
Accommodation | Eye lens adjustment to focus on near/far objects | Physiology |
Acute injury | Injury with sudden onset and short duration | Sport Injury / First Aid |
Adaptation | Adjustment of body to stress or environment | Physiology / Exercise Physiology |
Adduction | Movement of a limb toward the midline | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Adenine | Nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA | Genetics / Biochemistry |
Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) | Molecule formed after ATP loses one phosphate | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | Primary energy carrier in cells | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Adenovirus | Virus causing respiratory infections | Biology / Pathophysiology |
Adipose tissue | Fat tissue storing energy | Anatomy / Nutrition |
Adrenal gland | Endocrine gland producing hormones like cortisol | Anatomy / Physiology |
Adrenergic receptor | Receptor responding to adrenaline/noradrenaline | Physiology / Pharmacology |
Adson’s test | Clinical test for thoracic outlet syndrome | Exercise Testing / Sport Injury |
Aerobic exercise | Exercise requiring oxygen for energy production | Exercise Physiology / Strength & Conditioning |
Aerobic metabolism | Energy production using oxygen | Exercise Physiology / Physiology |
Agility | Ability to change direction rapidly | Strength & Conditioning / Exercise Physiology |
Agonist | Muscle responsible for movement | Biomechanics / Strength & Conditioning |
Agoraphobia | Fear of open or crowded spaces | Psychology / Psychiatry |
Albumin | Plasma protein maintaining osmotic pressure | Nutrition / Physiology |
Albuminuria | Presence of albumin in urine | Pathophysiology / Physiology |
Alkaline phosphatase | Enzyme involved in bone metabolism | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Alkalosis | Elevated blood pH | Pathophysiology / Physiology |
Allostasis | Process of achieving stability through physiological change | Physiology / Psychology |
Allosteric site | Non-active site on enzyme influencing activity | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Alpha motor neuron | Neuron that stimulates skeletal muscle contraction | Physiology / Motor Behavior |
Alpha rhythm | Brainwave pattern seen on EEG | Neuroscience / Psychology |
Alpha-linolenic acid | Essential omega-3 fatty acid | Nutrition / Biochemistry |
Altered mental status | Change in consciousness or cognition | First Aid / Pathophysiology |
Alternating current | Electric current changing direction periodically | Physics / Biomechanics |
Alveolar macrophage | Immune cell in alveoli engulfing pathogens | Biology / Physiology |
Alveolar ventilation | Volume of air reaching alveoli per minute | Exercise Physiology / Physiology |
Alveoli | Tiny air sacs in the lungs for gas exchange | Anatomy / Physiology |
Ambulation | Act of walking | Exercise Physiology / Rehabilitation |
Amenorrhea | Absence of menstruation | Physiology / Nutrition |
Amnesia | Partial or total memory loss | Psychology / Neuroscience |
Amygdala | Brain region involved in emotion processing | Psychology / Neuroscience |
Amylase | Enzyme breaking down starch | Biochemistry / Nutrition |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | Neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons | Neurology / Motor Behavior |
Anabolism | Process of building complex molecules from simpler ones | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Anaerobic metabolism | Energy production without oxygen | Exercise Physiology / Physiology |
Anal sphincter | Muscle controlling defecation | Anatomy / Physiology |
Analgesia | Absence of pain | First Aid / Physiology |
Analysis of variance | Statistical method to compare group means | Sociology / Psychology |
Anaphylactic shock | Life-threatening allergic reaction | First Aid / ACLS |
Anaphylaxis | Severe allergic reaction | First Aid / ACLS |
Anatomy | Study of body structure | Anatomy |
Anatomy lab | Laboratory for studying human/animal structure | Anatomy / Education |
Androgen | Male sex hormone | Physiology / Endocrinology |
Anemia | Deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin | Nutrition / Physiology |
Anemia ferriprive | Iron-deficiency anemia | Nutrition / Physiology |
Anemia perniciosa | Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia | Nutrition / Physiology |
Angina | Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart | Pathophysiology / ACLS |
Angiogenesis | Formation of new blood vessels | Physiology / Pathophysiology |
Angular momentum | Rotational equivalent of linear momentum | Physics / Biomechanics |
Angular velocity | Rate of change of angular position | Biomechanics / Physics |
Ankle dorsiflexion | Upward movement of the foot at the ankle | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Ankle inversion | Inward movement of the foot | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Ankle plantarflexion | Downward movement of the foot | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Ankle sprain | Injury to ligaments of the ankle | Sport Injury / First Aid |
Antagonist | Muscle opposing the action of another muscle | Biomechanics / Strength & Conditioning |
Anterior | Front of the body | Anatomy |
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) | Ligament stabilizing the knee | Anatomy / Sport Injury |
Antibody | Protein produced by immune system to neutralize antigens | Immunology / Biology |
Antigen | Substance that triggers an immune response | Immunology / Biology |
Antigen-presenting cell | Immune cell displaying antigen to T-cells | Immunology / Biology |
Anxiety | Emotional state characterized by apprehension | Psychology / Sport Psychology |
Anxiety disorder | Psychological condition with excessive anxiety | Psychology / Psychiatry |
Aorta | Main artery carrying blood from the heart | Anatomy / Physiology |
Aortic valve | Valve controlling blood flow from heart to aorta | Anatomy / Physiology |
Apnea | Temporary cessation of breathing | Physiology / Exercise Testing |
Aponeurosis | Flat tendon connecting muscle to bone | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Appendicular skeleton | Bones of the limbs and girdles | Anatomy |
Appraisal | Cognitive evaluation of stressors | Psychology / Sport Psychology |
Apraxia | Inability to perform motor tasks despite intact muscles | Neurology / Motor Behavior |
Aquaporin | Protein channel facilitating water movement in cells | Physiology / Biochemistry |
Aqueous humor | Fluid in the eye between cornea and lens | Anatomy / Physiology |
Arrhythmia | Irregular heartbeat | ECG / Pathophysiology |
Arteriole | Small branch of an artery | Anatomy / Physiology |
Artery | Blood vessel carrying blood away from heart | Anatomy / Physiology |
Arthritis | Inflammation of joints | Pathophysiology / Sport Injury |
Articular cartilage | Smooth tissue covering bone ends in joints | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Articulation | Joint connecting bones | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Aspiration | Inhalation of foreign material into lungs | First Aid / Pathophysiology |
Assessment | Evaluation of performance or condition | Exercise Testing / Psychology |
Asthma | Chronic airway inflammation causing breathing difficulty | Pathophysiology / Physiology |
Astigmatism | Eye defect causing blurred vision | Anatomy / Physiology |
Atrophy | Decrease in size of tissue or muscle | Physiology / Strength & Conditioning |
Attentional focus | Concentration on specific stimuli during performance | Sport Psychology / Psychology |
Auditory cortex | Brain region processing sound | Anatomy / Psychology |
Auditory nerve | Nerve transmitting sound signals to brain | Anatomy / Neuroscience |
Autoclave | Device for sterilizing equipment using steam | Biology / First Aid |
Autonomic nervous system | Part of nervous system controlling involuntary functions | Physiology / Anatomy |
Autophagy | Cellular process of degrading damaged organelles | Biology / Physiology |
Axial load | Force applied along the axis of a structure | Biomechanics / Physics |
Axial rotation | Rotation around the long axis of a body segment | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Axial skeleton | Bones of the head, neck, and trunk | Anatomy |
Axis | Second cervical vertebra (C2) | Anatomy |
Axon | Nerve fiber transmitting impulses from neuron | Anatomy / Neuroscience |
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