FITNESS ABCs

The Anaerobic Threshold is defined as that point where the body can no longer meet the oxygen demand
and it's anaerobic metabolism is accelerated. This point varies on an individual basis and is dependent on
fitness level. For healthy individuals, this occurs between 50% and 66% of their maximal working capacity.
This would be equivalent to running faster than half speed.

CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Air is inhaled into the lungs where oxygen is exchanged through tiny gas permeable sacs within the lungs
for carbon dioxide from the blood. The heart pumps the oxygen rich blood from the left atrium through the
arteries then through tiny vessels called capillaries to the tissues of the body. At the cell level, oxygen is
given up for metabolism and the carbon dioxide produced by this action is picked up by the blood. The
oxygen depleted and carbon dioxide rich blood is then pumped back to the heart, through the veins to the
right atrium to the lungs where the process is repeated.

Aerobic activity increases the strength of the heart muscle. The result is a greater volume of blood per
stroke. This is referred to as Stroke Volume or the amount of blood ejected from each ventricle of the
heart during one stroke. Cardiac Output is a measure of the amount of blood pumped through each
ventricle in one minute. Vital Capacity is the volume of air that can be forcibly ejected from the lungs in a
single expiration. Aerobic activity provides a Training Effect on Vital Capacity, Stroke Volume and Cardiac
Output. By definition an artery carries blood away from the heart while veins carry blood toward the heart.

KINESIOLOGY

ANATOMY

Bones provide attachment points and support for muscles. Bones are connected together by fibrous tissue
called Ligaments. Tendons are also fibrous tissue and attach muscle to bone. Both have some elasticity
and do not heal on their own if torn. An inflamed tendon is called tendonitis and is caused by
overstretching the tendon. Cartilage is also fibrous tissue but is not elastic. Cartilage is used to cushion
the junction of two bones.

The body is divided into three anatomical planes the Frontal, Sagittal and Horizontal. The Frontal plane
divides the body from front to back. The Sagittal plane divides the body down the center or vertically. The
Horizontal plane divides upper and lower. The table below lists the anatomical term and the corresponding
description.

ANATOMICAL TERM

DESCRIPTION

Anterior front

Posterior back

Medial inside

Lateral outside

Supine face up

Unilateral one side

Bilateral both sides

Prone face down

Superior upper

Inferior lower