Glossary
of Specialized Terms
Adhesions
Bands of fibrous scar tissue.
Aerobic exercise
See Cardiovascular exercise.
Anterior
Toward the front, or in front.
Arthritis Degenerative
joint disease characterized by
inflammation, pain, damage and
or erosion of joint cartilage.
Articular Relating to
the junction between two bones.
Basal metabolism
The amount of energy that used
while the body is at rest.
Blood volume The amount
of blood in the body.
Bursitis Inflammation
of the bursa; the fluid-filled
sacs that reduce friction between
body parts.
Cardiac output
The amount of blood pumped
by the heart per minute.
Cardiovascular exercise
Conditioning exercise that increases
the amount of work done by the
heart and lungs over a sustained
period of time. Also called aerobic
exercise.
Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome A condition
characterized by pain, tingling,
and numbness in the wrist and/or
hand.
Cartilage
Tough, shiny, elastic
tissue found in the ear, nose,
etc.; also covers the articular
surfaces of bone.
Cerclage
A suture placed around the cervix.
Cervix The
outer end (neck) of the uterus.
Coccyx The bottom bone
of the spine; the tailbone.
Concentric contraction Muscular
action where muscle fibers shorten
during exertion. Opposite of eccentric
contraction.
Contraction
See concentric contraction.
Contraindicated Proscribed.
Core conditioning Exercise
modality that increases strength
and stability in the torso and
spine.
Core muscles Deep muscles
of the torso.
Diastasis Recti Abdominal
Separation.
Dynamic instability Characterized
by the inability to maintain proper
positioning during movement.
Dynamic stability Characterized
by the ability to maintain proper
positioning during movement.
Ecentric contraction
Muscular action where muscle fibers
lengthen during exertion. Opposite
of concentric contraction.
Edema Swelling caused
by abnormal fluid buildup.
Episiotomy Incision of
the perineum during labor.
Erector Spinae Muscles
that extend the back.
Ergonomic Designed to
reduce fatigue or discomfort.
Extension The act of
straightening a limb or joint.
External Oblique Abdominal
muscle primarily responsible for
lateral flexion of the spine.
Fetus The unborn human
after the eighth week of pregnancy.
Flexibility Range of
motion at a joint or in the body.
Flexion
The act of bending a limb or joint.
Gluteals
Muscles that extend the hips;
the buttocks.
Hamstrings Muscles on
the back of the thighs.
Hydration The act of
supplying water (to the body).
Hypertension High blood
pressure.
Hypertonic Extreme muscular
tension or tightness.
Hypotension Low blood
pressure.
Hypotonic Extreme muscular
weakness or atrophy.
Iliac crests The frontal
protuberance of the ilea, or hipbones.
Iliopsoas Deep muscles
of the lower back and hips that
flex the hip.
Intercostal
muscles Small muscles
between the ribs.
Internal
Oblique Abdominal muscle
primarily responsible for lateral
flexion of the spine.
Interval Training
Intense athletic training designed
to build speed and power.
Ischium
The bottom bones of the pelvis.
Kyphotic Referring to
the curve of the thoracic spine.
Lateral Relating to the
side.
Laxity Condition marked
by lack of tone or firmness.
Levator Scapulae Upper
back muscles that elevate the
shoulders.
Ligament
Elastic, fibrous tissue that connect
bones and stabilizes joints.
Linea Alba Connective
tissue at the body’s midline.
Lochia Normal postpartum
bleeding.
Longitudinal arch
The arch of the foot that spans
the heel to the toes. The instep.
Lordotic Relating to
the lumbar curve of the lower
back.
Metabolism Energy usage
and/or processes within a cell
to maintain life.
Metatarsal arch The arch
of the foot that spans the base
of the toes.
Multifitus
Deepest spinal muscles.
Musculoskeletal Relating
to muscles and the skeleton.
Neck flexors
Muscles that shorten the distance
between the chin and the chest.
Neutral spine Position
where the spine is not flexed,
extended, twisted or tilted. When
standing, the body is symmetrically
balanced around the central axis
of gravity.
Oblique Diagonal.
Patella Kneecap.
Pectoral Relating to
the muscles of the chest.
Pelvic floor
Referring to muscles that cover
the pelvic outlet; the pubococcygeals.
Pelvic instability A
condition where the joints of
the pelvis display hypermobility.
Pelvic outlet The opening
at the bottom of the pelvis.
Perineum
Strong fibrous connective tissue
of the vulva.
Placenta Circulatory
organ that develops during pregnancy
to which the umbilical cord of
the fetus is attached.
Placenta previa
A condition where the placenta
is adjacent to or blocks the cervix.
Posterior Toward the
rear.
Pre-eclampsia A condition
marked by hypertension during
pregnancy.
Prolapse
To fall or slide out of place.
Pubic Symphysis Joint
where the right and left pubic
bones connect.
Pubococcygeals
Relating to pelvic floor muscles.
Prone Lying on
the front of the body, or face
down. Opposite of supine.
Quadriceps Four-part
muscle group on the front of the
thigh that flexes the hip and
straightens the knee.
Quadratus Lumborum Deep
muscle of the lower back responsible
for lateral flexion of the spine.
Also called the “hip hiker”
muscle.
Rectus Abdominis Abdominal
wall muscle primarily responsible
for forward flexion.
Rectus Femoris Large
muscle on the front of the thigh
that flexes the hip and extends
the knee.
Rhomboids Upper back
muscles that elevate and pull
the scapulae closer to the spine.
Rotation The act of turning
around an axis.
Sacroiliac Joint where
the pelvis and lower spine meet.
Scapulae The shoulder
blades.
Sciatica A condition
that causes pain to radiate along
the sciatic nerve from the lower
back to the legs.
Serratus
Anterior Muscle responsible
for scapular depression.
Strength training Exercise
with progressive resistance to
increase the endurance and power
of muscles.
Stroke volume The amount
of blood pumped by the heart per
beat.
Sub maximal heart rate Heart
rate intensity below maximal exertion
or below 85% of maximal oxygen
uptake.
Supine Lying on the back,
face up. Opposite of prone.
Tendon Connective tissue
that connects muscle to bone.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A condition that causes pain,
tingling and numbness in the arms.
Thorax Region of the
body between the neck and the
diaphragm, or the upper back.
Tidal volume Amount of
air taken in by the lungs per
breath.
Tone Firmness of muscle
tissue.
Transverse Abdominis
Deepest layer of the abdominal
wall. Responsible for abdominal
compression.
Trapezius
Muscle that runs from the neck
to the middle of the upper back.
Responsible for raising the shoulders
and head.
Urinary Stress Incontinence
Leakage of urine due to strain.
Uterus Female reproductive
organ.
Vasculature Blood vessels.
Vena cava Large vein
of the torso that returns blood
to the heart.
Vertebrae The bones of
the spine.
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