Exercise Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal muscles: A large group of muscles in the front of the abdomen that assists in th...

Aerobic: Oxygen-requiring. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen to grow. Aerobic exercise requires...

Aerobic exercise: Brisk exercise that promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood...

Anaerobic: Not requiring oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria, for example, do not require oxygen to...

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Antidepressant: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Baseline: Information or data gathered at the beginning of a period from which variations ...

Belly: That part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and t...

Belly button: The navel or umbilicus; the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord....

Biceps: A muscle that has two heads, or origins. There is more than one biceps muscle. The...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

BMI: Body mass index.

Body mass index: A key index for relating weight to height. Abbreviated BMI. BMI is a pers...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is diagnosed with self- and physician-examination of the brea...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Calf: The belly or fleshy hind part of the back of the leg below the knee. The calf is mad...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Carbohydrate: One of the three nutrient compounds, along with fat and protein, used as ene...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve...

Cardiovascular disease: Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels.

CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking a...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chin: Medically, the mentum. The lower portion of the face below the lower lip including t...

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

Colon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini...

Colon cancer: A malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (the co...

Conditioning: 1) Exercise and practice to build the body up for either improved normal pe...

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diastolic: Referring to the time when the heart is in a period of relaxation and dilatatio...

Elbow: The juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the upper extremity. The bo...

Fasciitis: Inflammation of the fascia.

Father: (1) The male parent. (2) One who originates. For example, "Wilhelm Roentgen is con...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Glucose: The simple sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is found in the bloo...

HDL: High density lipoprotein.

HDL cholesterol: High density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lipoproteins, which are combination...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

Hippocrates: (c.460-377BC) Great Greek physician on the Mediterranean island of Cos, who f...

Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition which makes a particular treatment or proce...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insulin: A natural hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of the sugar gluco...

Insulin resistance: The diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in...

Knee: The knee is a joint which has three parts. The thigh bone (the femur) meets the lar...

Lateral: 1. In anatomy, the side of the body or a body part that is farther from th...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

MPH: Master of public health, a degree designating successful training in analyzing past, ...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Muscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

NIH: National Institutes of Health.

Nutrition: 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods. 2) A nourishing ...

Obese: Well above ones normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obe...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Plantar: Having to do with the sole of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia, the bowstring-like tissue that stre...

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Range of motion: The full movement potential of a joint, usually its range of flexion and ...

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

Resistance: Opposition to something, or the ability to withstand something. For example, s...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgeon General: In the United States, the chief medical officer of the U.S. Public Health...

Systolic: The blood pressure when the heart is contracting. It is specifically the maximum...

Tension: 1) The pressure within a vessel, such as blood pressure: the pressure within t...

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Tired: A feeling of a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment,...

Treadmill: A machine with a moving strip on which one walks without moving forward. A trea...

Triceps: The muscle that extends (straightens) the forearm. The triceps can be felt as the...

Triglycerides: The major form of fat stored by the body. A triglyceride consists of three ...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Vertical: In anatomy, upright. As opposed to horizontal.

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...