Dictionary of Sports and Exercise Science

320 Pages·2006·5.12 MB·english

by  A & C Black Publishers

Dictionary of
Sport and
Exercise Science
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Dictionary of
Sport and
Exercise Science
A & C Black (cid:2) London
www.acblack.com
First published in Great Britain in 2006
A & C Black Publishers Ltd
38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB
© A & C Black Publishers Ltd 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any form or by any means without the permission of the publishers
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
eISBN-13: 978-1-4081-0205-3
Text Production and Proofreading
Heather Bateman, Katy McAdam, Howard Sargeant
This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed,
sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and
manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country
of origin.
Text typeset by A & C Black
Printed in Italy by Rotolito Lombarda
Preface
This dictionary provides a basic vocabulary of terms used in sport and
exercise science. With a wide coverage of terms from anatomy, medicine,
psychology, physiology and sports nutrition, it is an ideal reference for
students of sports and exercise sciences, as well as those with a general
interest in health and fitness.
Each headword is explained in clear, straightforward English. There are also
supplements including anatomical figures, measurement conversions and a
list of key industry contacts for athletes and sports scientists.
Thanks are due to Morc Coulson, Programme Leader at University Sport
Sunderland, for his help and advice during the production of the text.

SportsScience.fm Page 1 Monday, September 25, 2006 2:53 PM
A
AA noun a human blood type of the ABO system, containing the A antigen. Someone
with this type of blood can donate to people of the same group or of the AB group, and
can receive blood from people with this type or with type O.
AAB B noun a human blood type of the ABO system, containing the A and B antigens.
Someone with this type of blood can donate to people of the same group and receive
blood from people with this type or with type O, A or B.
AA-band-band noun a visible dark band in striated muscle
AABC BC abbreviation airway, breathing, circulation
aabdombendomen noun a space inside the body that contains the stomach, intestines, liver and
other vital organs
aabdombinald crunoch minal crunch noun same as crunch
aabdombinald fatominal fat noun fat that is deposited mainly on the abdominal area, thought to
indicate a higher risk of heart disease
aabdombinald muscolesminal muscles plural noun same as abdominals
aabdombinald rigiodityminal rigidity noun extreme tightness of the abdominal muscles caused by
injury or insufficient warm-up
aabdombinald rolloer minal roller noun a piece of gym equipment that works the abdominal muscles
aabdombinalds ominals plural noun the muscles found in the abdomen, particularly the internal
and external obliques
aabdombinald traioningminal training noun a workout that concentrates on the abdominal muscles,
especially with the aim of developing a six-pack
aabducbens nderveucens nerve noun the sixth cranial nerve, which controls the muscle which
makes the eyeball turn outwards. Also called abducent nerve
aabducbentducent adjective used for describing a muscle that brings parts of the body away
from each other or moves them away from the central line of the body or a limb.
Compare adducent
aabducbent nderveucent nerve noun same as abducens nerve
aabducbt duct verb to pull a leg or arm in a direction that is away from the centre line of the
body, or to pull a toe or finger away from the central line of a leg or arm. Compare
adduct
aabducbtionduction noun movement of a limb away from the body
aabducbtorductor noun a muscle that pulls the body or a limb away from a midpoint or midline
SportsScience.fm Page 2 Monday, September 25, 2006 2:53 PM
ability 2
aabilibtyility noun 1. a natural tendency to do something successfully or well 2. a high degree
of intelligence or competence 3. a particular gift for doing something well
aabilibty-toi-slkiillt tryansf-erto-skill transfer noun the fact that an ability someone develops in learning
one new skill can be extended to learn other skills
aablatbionlation noun the removal of diseased or unwanted tissue from the body by surgical
or other means
aableble adjective 1. physically or mentally equipped to do something 2. having the neces-
sary resources or talent to do something
aable-bbodilede-bodied adjective healthy and physically strong
aableibsmleism noun discrimination in favour of those who are not physically or mentally
disabled
AAblokobv tesltokov test noun a test of an athlete’s ability to jump from a squat position
AABO syBstemO system noun a system of classifying blood types. (cid:2) blood type
aabrasbionrasion noun a minor injury in the form of a graze to the skin
aabsbs plural noun the abdominal muscles, or exercises done to firm them (informal)
aabscebssscess noun a painful swollen area where pus forms (NOTE: The formation of an
abscess is often accompanied by a high temperature. The plural is abscesses.)
aabseibl seil verb to descend a steep slope or vertical face using a rope that is secured at the
top and passed through a series of coils or a harness around the body
aabsolbute dsoseolute dose noun the amount of an ingested drug that is absorbed into the body
aabsolbute lsoadolute load noun the amount of resistance against a movement
aabsolbute rsefraoctoryl pueriodte refractory period noun the brief time during which a stimulated muscle
fibre is not affected by any further stimulation
aabsolbute sstrenogthlute strength noun the maximum weight that a person can lift
aabsorbptionsorption noun the process of taking into the body substances such as proteins or
fats that have been digested from food and enter the bloodstream from the stomach and
intestines
aabstabinstain verb to choose not to do something
aabstebmiousstemious adjective tending not to eat or drink very much
aabstrbactinsgtracting noun the skill of being able to assess a situation in a team game and draw
on previous experience to decide a course of action
aabusebuse noun the harmful use of drugs or alcohol (cid:2) verb to use something in an
improper, illegal or harmful way
aacadecmic asportds pseycholmogy ic sports psychology noun sports psychology that is theoretical and
research-based
aaçaíçaí noun a berry with very high concentrations of essential fatty acids and anthocy-
anins, considered a superfood
aacapnciaapnia noun a medical condition marked by a deficiency of carbon dioxide in the
blood and tissues
aaccelceratce elerate verb to increase in speed. Opposite decelerate
aaccelceratcioneleration noun 1. the act of accelerating 2. the rate of change of velocity. Opposite
deceleration 3. an outward force caused by a change in direction without a change in
speed
SportsScience.fm Page 3 Monday, September 25, 2006 2:53 PM
3 achievement
aaccelceratcion seprinltiengration sprinting noun a training exercise in which the athlete begins by
jogging and gradually accelerates to a sprint
aaccelceratcive feorcelerative force noun the force exerted on a body when it travels at an increasing
speed, which can lead to injuries such as whiplash
aaccelceromceterelerometer noun an instrument or device for measuring acceleration, especially
one in which a sensor converts acceleration into an electrical signal
aaccescs cess noun the easy availability of public sports facilities
aaccescsiblce essible adjective suitable or adapted for people with disabilities
aaccescsoryc nerveessory nerve noun the eleventh cranial nerve which supplies the muscles in the
neck and shoulders
aacclicmaticsatilonimatisation noun the act of gradually getting your body used to something, e.g.
heat or altitude
aaccomcmodactingo resimstancemodating resistance noun the ability to exert maximum force on the
muscles at all stages of a movement, usually achieved using specially adapted machines
aaccomcmodactiono prinmciplemodation principle noun the idea that someone attempting to learn a
particular sport or skill should first develop general fitness and strength
aaccomcplischedomplished adjective having considerable talent and skill
aaccomcplischmenot mplishment noun something achieved, usually something impressive or aimed
for
aaccrecditcredit verb to officially recognise a person or organisation as having met a standard
or criterion
aaccrecditecd redited adjective officially recognised as having met a standard or criterion
aaccurcacycuracy noun 1. the state of being correct 2. the state of being on target
aaccurcatecurate adjective 1. correct 2. on target
aacece noun 1. (in tennis) a serve that an opponent cannot reach 2. (in golf) a hole in one
3. someone who is outstandingly good at a sport (informal)
aacebuctoloel butolol noun a drug that reduces the heart rate and the force of heart muscle
contraction
aacetacbuluem tabulum noun the part of the pelvic bone, shaped like a cup, into which the head
of the femur fits to form the hip joint. Also called cotyloid cavity (NOTE: The plural is
acetabula.)
aaceticc aceidtic acid noun an acid used in weak dilutions to cool the skin and prevent excessive
sweating
aacetocaceteatetoacetate noun a ketone substance secreted by the liver which indicates a failure
of metabolism
aacetyclchoelinetylcholine noun a substance that is released from the ends of some nerve fibres to
transmit impulses to other nerve cells or to muscles
aacetyclchoelinetsteyraselcholinesterase noun an enzyme, present in blood and some nerve endings,
that aids the breakdown of acetylcholine and suppresses its stimulatory effect on nerves
aacetycl coeenzymte yA l coenzyme A noun a coenzyme produced during the metabolism of carbohy-
drates, fatty acids and amino acids. Abbreviation acetyl CoA
aachiecved hperfoirmeancev veloecityd performance velocity noun velocity attained in competition, which
depends on the athlete’s level of training, mental preparation and numerous other factors
aachiecvemehntievement noun the successful completion of something demanding