Chapter 2 Sample Questions:
Answers at the bottom of the page:
In general, “proximal” refers to a body part that is…
A:) Closer to the head
B:) Further from the head
C:) Closer to the trunk
D:) Further from the trunk
A “synergist” muscle…
A:) …indirectly assists in a movement.
B:) …is primarily responsible for a given movement.
C:) …slows down or stops a given movement.
In a third-class lever, which moment arm is shorter?
A:) Moment arm of muscle force
B:) Moment arm of resistive force
C:) Both moment arms are equal in length
True or False: When dealing with levers, the longer the moment arm of resistive force, the less muscle force is needed to overcome the resistive force.
A:) True
B:) False
The deadlift is a __________ plane exercise.
A:) Frontal
B:) Sagittal
C:) Transverse
__________ x Distance = Work
A:) Acceleration
B:) Force
C:) Power
Maximal force output can be increased by…
A:) …decreasing the firing rate of motor units in a muscle contraction
B:) …increasing the firing rate of motor units in a muscle contraction
All things being equal, the amount of force a muscle can generate is more related to…
A:) …its cross-sectional area rather than its volume.
B:) …its volume rather than its cross-sectional area.
True or False: During the downward movement of the back squat, eccentric muscle action occurs in the agonist muscles of the movement
A:) True
B:) False
Scroll
Down
For
Answers
Scroll
Down
For
Answers
Scroll
Down
For
Answers
Scroll
Down
For
Answers
In general, “proximal” refers to a body part that is…
A:) Closer to the head
B:) Further from the head
C:) Closer to the trunk
D:) Further from the trunk
Answer:
Closer to the trunk
In general, “proximal” refers to a body part that is closer to the trunk (relative to another body part). For example, the elbow is proximal compared to the wrist, but when compared to the upper arm, the elbow is “distal” (further from the trunk).
A “synergist” muscle…
A:) …indirectly assists in a movement.
B:) …is primarily responsible for a given movement.
C:) …slows down or stops a given movement.
Answer:
…indirectly assists in a movement.
The muscle most directly involved in bringing about a movement is called the “agonist.” The muscle that can slow down that movement is called the “antagonist.” A muscle that assists indirectly in a movement is called a “synergist.”
In a third-class lever, which moment arm is shorter?
A:) Moment arm of muscle force
B:) Moment arm of resistive force
C:) Both moment arms are equal in length
Answer:
Moment arm of muscle force.
A first-class lever has muscle force and resistive force acting on opposite sides of a fulcrum. A second-class lever has both the muscle force and resistive force on the same side of a fulcrum, but the muscle force has a longer moment arm than the resistive force. A third-class lever has both the muscle force and resistive force on the same side of a fulcrum, but the resistive force has a longer moment arm than the muscle force.
True or False: When dealing with levers, the longer the moment arm of resistive force, the less muscle force is needed to overcome the resistive force.
A:) True
B:) False
Answer:
False.
In biomechanics, a moment arm is the perpendicular distance between a joint axis and the line of force acting on that joint. The moment arm determines the torque produced by a muscle around a joint, with a longer moment arm resulting in a greater torque for the same force applied.
However, a longer moment arm also means that the muscle has to contract over a greater distance to produce a given joint rotation. This means that the muscle has to do more work to produce the same amount of joint rotation, resulting in lower efficiency.
To understand this, let’s consider an example. Imagine you’re trying to lift a weight by flexing your elbow joint. If you hold the weight close to your elbow joint, your biceps muscle will have a short moment arm, which means it doesn’t have to contract very much to produce a given amount of joint rotation. This requires less energy and results in higher efficiency.
On the other hand, if you hold the weight further away from your elbow joint, your biceps muscle will have a longer moment arm, which means it has to contract more to produce the same amount of joint rotation. This requires more energy and results in lower efficiency.
In general, muscles are most efficient when their moment arms are at a moderate length. This is because a moderate moment arm allows the muscle to produce enough torque to overcome the resistance, while still minimizing the energy required to perform the movement.
Overall, a longer moment arm can result in lower efficiency because it requires the muscle to do more work to produce the same amount of joint rotation. However, the exact relationship between moment arm and efficiency depends on the specific movement and the properties of the muscle.
The deadlift is a __________ plane exercise.
A:) Frontal
B:) Sagittal
C:) Transverse
Answer:
Sagittal.
The sagittal plane divides the body into left / right sections. During a deadlift, the weight is lifted from the ground and moved upwards along the midline of the body. This movement primarily involves flexion and extension of the hip and knee joints, which occur in the sagittal plane around the anterior-posterior axis.
When examining anatomical planes for exercise, think about the primary (agonist) muscle(s) of the movement and which plane that it is moving parallel to. To answer this question, you’ll need to be able to answer several components of the question:
1) What does the deadlift exercise look like?
2) What is the agonist muscle of the movement?
3) What are the 3 anatomical planes?
__________ x Distance = Work
A:) Acceleration
B:) Force
C:) Power
Answer:
Force. Force x Distance = Work.
In physics, work is defined as the amount of energy transferred when a force F is applied over a distance d in the direction of the force. Mathematically, work is given by the formula: Work = Force x Distance x cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.
Now, if the force is applied in the direction of motion (i.e., theta = 0), then cos(theta) = 1 and the formula reduces to: Work = Force x Distance. This means that when a force is applied over a distance in the direction of motion, the work done is simply the product of the force and the distance traveled.
Imagine pushing a weight sled across a floor. The force you apply to the sled is proportional to the weight of the sled and the force of friction between the sled and the floor. The distance the sled travels is the length of the floor. If you push the sled with a force of 10 Newtons and it moves a distance of 5 meters, then the work you do is Work = Force x Distance = 10 N x 5 m = 50 Joules
So, force multiplied by distance equals work, and this relationship is used to calculate the amount of work done when a force is applied over a distance.
Maximal force output can be increased by…
A:) …decreasing the firing rate of motor units in a muscle contraction
B:) …increasing the firing rate of motor units in a muscle contraction
Answer:
…increasing the firing rate of motor units in a muscle contraction.
When a motor neuron fires, it causes the muscle fibers it innervates to contract with a certain force. However, if the firing rate of the motor neuron increases, the muscle fibers contract more frequently, which results in a greater force being produced.
The reason for this is that when a muscle fiber is stimulated by a motor neuron, it releases calcium ions that cause the muscle fiber to contract. When a motor neuron fires at a high frequency, the concentration of calcium ions in the muscle fiber remains elevated for a longer period of time, which allows the muscle fiber to contract more forcefully.
Therefore, increasing the firing rate of motor units increases the force produced by a muscle by causing the muscle fibers to contract more frequently, which leads to a greater release of calcium ions and a stronger contraction.
All things being equal, the amount of force a muscle can generate is more related to…
A:) …its cross-sectional area rather than its volume.
B:) …its volume rather than its cross-sectional area.
Answer:
…its cross-sectional area rather than its volume. This means that the larger the muscle’s cross-sectional area, the more force it can produce. The reason for this relationship between muscle cross-sectional area and force has to do with the structure of muscle fibers. Muscle fibers are arranged in parallel bundles, and when a muscle contracts, these fibers shorten in length.
However, the force generated by each fiber is proportional to its cross-sectional area, not its length. Therefore, a muscle with a larger cross-sectional area has more fibers contributing to force production, and thus can generate greater force than a muscle with a smaller cross-sectional area. Muscle volume, on the other hand, is related to the amount of work a muscle can do before it fatigues. This is because muscle volume is correlated with the number of muscle fibers present in the muscle. More muscle fibers means more potential for work, but not necessarily more force production per fiber.
True or False: During the downward movement of the back squat, eccentric muscle action occurs in the agonist muscles of the movement
A:) True
B:) False
Answer:
True. The three types of muscle action are: concentric (muscle shortening), eccentric (muscle lengthening), and isometric (muscle length does not change). In eccentric muscle action, the muscle lengthens because the muscle force generated is less than the resistive force being moved / lifted. An “agonist” is the primary muscle involved in a given movement. During the downwards movement of the back squat, the agonist muscles lengthen, causing the hips / knees to flex and the athlete’s body to move downward.
CSCS Study Questions: Structure and Function of Body Systems
CSCS Questions: Chapter 2: Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise
Chapter 2 of the Essentials of Strength Training & Conditioning (4th edition) textbook was written by Jeffrey M. McBride, Ph.D. These CSCS biomechanics questions contain a general overview of the biomechanics principles that will be relevant for taking the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam. This chapter covers major components of skeletal musculature, types of levers, anatomical movements, linear and rotational work and power calculations, factors that contribute to strength and power, force and power patterns, and important joint biomechanics for exercise.
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists
This page contains Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist questions to prepare for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam. Certified strength and conditioning specialists are fitness professionals. They are specially trained and experienced in using the application of scientific principles to improve athletic performance. Certified strength and conditioning specialists assist athletes by designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs. Certified strength and conditioning specialists (CSCS) conducting sport-specific performance testing, provide guidance with nutrition, and assist with injury prevention strategies (NSCA, 2015).
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Exam
The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a four-hour-long, pencil and paper or computer-based examination. The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam has two sections: “Scientific Foundations” and “Practical / Applied.” Each of these sections consist of questions that the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) feels are relevant to test the knowledge and experience of a candidate for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) professional credential. Certified strength conditioning specialist questions in the Scientific Foundations section include anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition. Certified strength conditioning specialist questions in the Practical / Applied section include program design, exercise techniques, testing and evaluation, and organization / administration (NSCA, 2015).
Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist Questions
This quiz features Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Exam Questions: Chapter 4 material: Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise from Essentials of Strength Training & Conditioning (3rd edition) textbook by Thomas R. Baechle and Roger W. Earle. This is the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recommended textbook to prepare for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam (NSCA, 2015)
References:
National Strength and Conditioning Association. (2015, June 1). NSCA Certification Handbook. Retrieved from National Strength and Conditioning Association Website: http://www.nsca.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=36507225490
National Strength and Conditioning Association. (2015). CSCS Certification. Retrieved from National Strength and Conditioning Association: http://www.nsca.com/CSCS_Certification_2/