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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 |
|---|---|---|
Radial Artery | Major artery in forearm, site for pulse measurement. | Anatomy |
Radial Deviation | Movement of wrist toward thumb side. | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Radial Nerve | Nerve supplying posterior arm and forearm. | Anatomy |
Radiation | Energy transmitted as waves or particles. | Physics |
Radiation Therapy | Cancer treatment using ionizing radiation. | Medicine |
Radiculopathy | Pain/neurological symptoms from compressed spinal nerve root. | Pathophysiology |
Radioactive Isotope | Unstable atom emitting radiation, used in diagnostics. | Chemistry / Physics |
Radionuclide Imaging | Nuclear medicine technique using tracers. | Medicine |
Radius | Forearm bone on thumb side. | Anatomy |
Radon | Naturally occurring radioactive gas. | Physics |
Rales | Abnormal crackling lung sounds. | Pathophysiology |
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) | Gold standard research design for testing interventions. | Sociology / Medicine |
Range of Motion (ROM) | Degree of movement at a joint. | Exercise Testing |
Raphe Nuclei | Brainstem nuclei producing serotonin. | Neuroscience |
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep | Sleep stage with dreaming and brain activity. | Psychology / Physiology |
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) | Subjective scale of exercise intensity. | Exercise Testing |
Reaction Time | Time between stimulus and response. | Psychology / Motor Behavior |
Receptor | Protein detecting specific molecules/signals. | Biology |
Receptor Potential | Graded potential in sensory receptor cells. | Physiology |
Receptor Tyrosine Kinase | Protein involved in cell signaling and growth. | Biology |
Recessive Trait | Genetic trait expressed only when homozygous. | Genetics |
Recovery Heart Rate | Heart rate decline post-exercise, fitness indicator. | Exercise Testing |
Reentry Tachycardia | Abnormal heart rhythm due to reentrant circuit. | ECG / Pathophysiology |
Reflex | Automatic, involuntary response to stimulus. | Motor Behavior / Physiology |
Reflex Arc | Neural pathway controlling reflexes. | Physiology |
Reflexive Stability | Automatic stabilization of posture/joints. | Motor Behavior |
Reflux (GERD) | Stomach acid flowing into esophagus. | Pathophysiology |
Refraction (Optics) | Bending of light passing between mediums. | Physics |
Refractory Period | Time when a neuron/muscle can’t fire again. | Physiology |
Regeneration | Renewal of tissue after damage. | Physiology |
Regression Analysis | Statistical method for predicting relationships. | Sociology / Research |
Rehabilitation | Restoration of health or function after injury. | Medicine / Sport Injury |
Rehydration | Replacement of lost body fluids. | First Aid / Nutrition |
Reinnervation | Nerve regrowth restoring muscle connection. | Medicine / Rehabilitation |
Relative Humidity | Measure of air’s water vapor content. | Physiology |
Relaxation Phase | Period when muscles return to resting state. | Physiology |
Renal Artery | Vessel carrying blood to kidney. | Anatomy |
Renal Failure | Loss of kidney function. | Pathophysiology |
Renal Pelvis | Funnel-shaped structure collecting urine in kidney. | Anatomy |
Renal Vein | Vessel draining blood from kidney. | Anatomy |
Renin | Enzyme regulating blood pressure via RAAS. | Physiology |
Reoxygenation | Restoration of oxygen supply to tissues. | Physiology |
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) | Overuse injury affecting muscles/tendons. | Sport Injury |
Repolarization | Restoration of resting electrical potential in cells. | ECG / Physiology |
Reproduction | Biological process of producing offspring. | Biology |
Residual Volume | Air remaining in lungs after maximal exhalation. | Physiology |
Resistance Training | Exercise using external load to build strength. | Strength & Conditioning |
Resistance Vessel | Arterioles regulating blood pressure/flow. | Physiology |
Respiration | Gas exchange process supplying oxygen and removing CO₂. | Physiology |
Respiratory Acidosis | Condition with excess CO₂ lowering blood pH. | Pathophysiology |
Respiratory Alkalosis | Condition with low CO₂ raising blood pH. | Pathophysiology |
Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) | Ratio of VCO₂/VO₂ during exercise. | Exercise Physiology |
Respiratory Quotient (RQ) | Ratio of CO₂ produced to O₂ consumed. | Exercise Physiology |
Rest Interval | Planned recovery time between exercise sets. | Strength & Conditioning |
Resting Heart Rate | Heart beats per minute at rest. | Exercise Testing |
Resting Membrane Potential | Baseline voltage difference across cell membrane. | Physiology |
Restless Legs Syndrome | Neurological disorder causing urge to move legs. | Pathophysiology |
Reticular Formation | Brainstem network regulating alertness. | Neuroscience |
Retina | Light-sensitive layer at back of eye. | Anatomy |
Retinal Detachment | Separation of retina from underlying tissue. | Pathophysiology |
Retinol (Vitamin A) | Essential nutrient for vision and skin health. | Nutrition |
Retinopathy | Damage to retina from disease (e.g., diabetes). | Pathophysiology |
Retractor Muscle | Muscle that pulls body part backward. | Anatomy |
Retrograde Amnesia | Memory loss of past events before injury. | Psychology |
Retrovirus | Virus inserting genetic material into host DNA. | Biology |
Reuptake | Neurotransmitter reabsorption into presynaptic cell. | Neuroscience |
Revascularization | Restoration of blood supply (e.g., in heart). | Medicine |
Reverse Transcriptase | Enzyme transcribing RNA into DNA. | Genetics / Biology |
Rh Factor | Blood antigen important in transfusions. | Physiology |
Rhabdomyolysis | Breakdown of muscle releasing myoglobin. | Pathophysiology / Sport Injury |
Rheostat | Electrical device regulating current. | Physics |
Rheumatic Fever | Inflammatory disease after streptococcal infection. | Pathophysiology |
Rheumatoid Arthritis | Autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation. | Pathophysiology |
Rhythm Control | Strategy for managing cardiac arrhythmias. | Medicine |
Rhythm Strip | ECG recording of continuous rhythm. | ECG |
Rickets | Bone softening in children due to vitamin D deficiency. | Pathophysiology |
Rigor Mortis | Postmortem stiffening of muscles. | Physiology |
Risk Factor | Attribute increasing likelihood of disease. | Sociology / Medicine |
Roentgen (R) | Unit of radiation exposure. | Physics |
Role Conflict | Psychological stress from incompatible roles. | Sociology |
Role Strain | Stress from excessive demands of one role. | Sociology |
Rorschach Test | Projective psychological test using inkblots. | Psychology |
Rotarod Test | Laboratory test assessing motor coordination. | Motor Behavior |
Rotation | Movement around an axis. | Biomechanics |
Rotator Cuff | Muscle group stabilizing the shoulder. | Anatomy / Sport Injury |
Rotavirus | Virus causing gastroenteritis, especially in children. | Pathophysiology |
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum | Organelle with ribosomes for protein synthesis. | Biology |
Running Economy | Energy cost of running at given speed. | Exercise Physiology |
Running Mechanics | Biomechanical analysis of running movement. | Biomechanics |
Running Speed Test | Assessment of sprinting ability. | Exercise Testing |
Ruptured Tendon | Complete tear of tendon. | Sport Injury |
RyR Mutation | Genetic variant affecting calcium handling in muscle. | Genetics |
Ryanodine Receptor | Calcium release channel in muscle cells. | Physiology |
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