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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 |
|---|---|---|
Ibuprofen | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). | First Aid / Medicine |
Ice Massage | Cryotherapy technique for injury management. | Sport Injury / First Aid |
Ileocecal Valve | Junction between small intestine and large intestine. | Anatomy |
Ileum | Final portion of the small intestine. | Anatomy |
Iliac Crest | Upper curved border of the ilium (pelvis). | Anatomy |
Iliopsoas | Hip flexor muscle group. | Anatomy / Strength & Conditioning |
Illusion | Misinterpretation of sensory stimuli. | Psychology |
Immune Response | Body’s defense mechanism against pathogens. | Biology / Physiology |
Immunity | Ability to resist infection or disease. | Biology |
Immunization | Process of inducing immunity via vaccines. | Biology / First Aid |
Immunoglobulin (Ig) | Antibodies secreted by plasma cells. | Biology |
Impact Force | Force exerted during collision or landing. | Biomechanics |
Impedance | Opposition to electrical current flow. | Physics / ECG |
Impingement Syndrome | Shoulder pain caused by tendon compression. | Sport Injury |
Implant | Medical device inserted into body tissue. | Medicine |
Impulse | Sudden force or neural signal. | Physics / Physiology |
In Vitro | Process occurring outside a living organism. | Biology |
In Vivo | Process occurring within a living organism. | Biology |
Inactivity | Lack of sufficient physical activity. | Exercise Physiology |
Incentive Spirometer | Device encouraging deep breathing post-surgery. | Physiology / First Aid |
Inception Cohort | Group in research starting at same defined point. | Sociology / Medicine |
Incision | Surgical cut through tissue. | Medicine |
Incontinence | Loss of bladder or bowel control. | Pathophysiology |
Independent Variable | Factor manipulated in experiments. | Research / Psychology |
Indirect Calorimetry | Measurement of oxygen consumption to assess energy expenditure. | Exercise Testing |
Induration | Hardening of soft tissue, often after injury. | Pathophysiology |
Infant Reflexes | Primitive motor responses in newborns. | Motor Behavior / Physiology |
Infection | Invasion of body by pathogens. | Pathophysiology |
Inferior | Directional term meaning “below.” | Anatomy |
Inferior Vena Cava | Large vein returning blood to heart. | Anatomy |
Inflammation | Localized immune response with redness, swelling, heat, pain. | Pathophysiology |
Influenza | Viral respiratory illness. | Pathophysiology |
Informed Consent | Voluntary agreement to participate in research or procedure. | Sociology / Medicine |
Infraspinatus | Shoulder muscle part of rotator cuff. | Anatomy |
Infusion | Delivery of fluid/medication directly into bloodstream. | Medicine |
Ingestion | Process of taking in food or drink. | Physiology / Nutrition |
Inhalation | Act of breathing in. | Physiology |
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter | Chemical that reduces neural activity (e.g., GABA). | Neuroscience |
Innate Immunity | Natural, non-specific defense system. | Biology |
Innominate Bone | Pelvic bone composed of ilium, ischium, pubis. | Anatomy |
Inotropic Effect | Influence on heart muscle contractility. | Physiology / Medicine |
Insensible Water Loss | Fluid loss via evaporation through skin/lungs. | Physiology |
Insomnia | Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep. | Psychology |
Inspiratory Reserve Volume | Maximal air inhaled beyond tidal volume. | Physiology |
Insulin | Hormone lowering blood glucose by promoting uptake. | Physiology / Nutrition |
Insulin Resistance | Reduced sensitivity of cells to insulin. | Pathophysiology |
Integration | Coordination of multiple neural signals. | Physiology |
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) | Measure of cognitive ability. | Psychology |
Intercalated Discs | Cardiac muscle structures for electrical coupling. | Anatomy / Physiology |
Intercostal Muscles | Muscles between ribs aiding respiration. | Anatomy |
Interdisciplinary Approach | Use of multiple fields in problem-solving. | Sociology / Medicine |
Interleukins | Cytokines mediating immune communication. | Immunology |
Intermittent Claudication | Leg pain from reduced blood flow during exercise. | Pathophysiology |
Internal Rotation | Turning a limb toward midline. | Anatomy |
International Normalized Ratio (INR) | Blood clotting test measure. | Medicine |
Interneurons | Neurons connecting sensory and motor pathways. | Neuroscience |
Interoception | Sense of internal body states (e.g., hunger, heartbeat). | Psychology / Physiology |
Interphase | Stage of cell cycle between divisions. | Biology |
Intersex | Condition with atypical sex characteristics. | Sociology / Genetics |
Interstitial Fluid | Fluid between cells in tissues. | Physiology |
Interval Training | Alternating exercise with rest or low intensity. | Exercise Physiology |
Intima | Innermost layer of blood vessel wall. | Anatomy |
Intracellular Fluid | Fluid inside cells. | Physiology |
Intramuscular Injection | Injection delivered into muscle tissue. | Medicine |
Intraocular Pressure | Fluid pressure inside the eye. | Physiology |
Intraperitoneal | Within the abdominal cavity. | Anatomy |
Intrathecal | Injection into spinal canal. | Medicine |
Intravenous (IV) | Delivery directly into a vein. | Medicine |
Intrinsic Motivation | Drive to act based on internal rewards. | Sport Psychology |
Intron | Non-coding sequence in genes. | Genetics |
Intubation | Placement of tube into airway. | ACLS / First Aid |
Inversion (Foot) | Sole of foot turned inward. | Anatomy / Motor Behavior |
Inverted-U Hypothesis | Theory linking arousal and performance. | Sport Psychology |
Ionic Bond | Chemical bond formed via electron transfer. | Chemistry |
Ionization | Process of forming charged particles (ions). | Chemistry / Physics |
Ionotropic Receptor | Receptor channel activated by neurotransmitters. | Physiology |
Ipsilateral | Same side of the body. | Anatomy |
Irregular Bones | Bones of complex shape (e.g., vertebrae). | Anatomy |
Irritability | Ability of cells to respond to stimuli. | Physiology |
Ischemia | Reduced blood flow to tissues. | Pathophysiology |
Ischemic Stroke | Stroke due to blocked blood vessel. | Pathophysiology |
Islets of Langerhans | Pancreatic clusters secreting insulin/glucagon. | Anatomy / Physiology |
Isokinetic Contraction | Muscle contraction at constant velocity. | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Isometric Contraction | Muscle contraction without change in length. | Strength & Conditioning |
Isotonic Contraction | Muscle contraction with constant tension and movement. | Exercise Physiology |
Isotopes | Variants of elements with different neutrons. | Chemistry |
Isovolumetric Contraction | Heart contraction with no volume change. | Physiology |
Isovolumetric Relaxation | Heart relaxation with no volume change. | Physiology |
It Band (Iliotibial Band) | Thick band of fascia on lateral thigh. | Anatomy |
Itch Reflex | Neural response leading to scratching behavior. | Motor Behavior / Physiology |
Iterative Learning | Repeated practice for skill refinement. | Sport Psychology / Motor Behavior |
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