Unit Objectives
Physiology of Exercise is a
challenging course. However, you determine
your own success, which requires a continued and sustained effort through the
semester. I am here to help you learn and understand the material.
However, this is a two-way process and requires you to take an active part. This includes asking questions during class
and visiting me outside of class to clarify material. Do not expect to learn
exercise physiology during class time; class discussions are for only
clarifying the material. The majority of
your learning should take place during out-of-class studying. While there will be considerable memorization
throughout the semester, you should attempt to understand course material. Exam questions emphasize testing your understanding
rather than how well you have memorized facts.
Study on a regular basis; don't wait until just before an exam or quiz
to study. There are no specific reading
assignments, you can find these yourself. I am in my office most afternoons, so please
stop by. There are more distractions
when sitting in the back of the room; sit toward the front and don't miss class
(or labs)!
Exam
1 – Skeletal muscle structure and function
1. Be able to interpret information from a
graph.
2. Discuss differences between an absolute and relative
expression. Suggest situations in which
each of the expressions would be preferable; provide several examples of each.
3. Discuss how muscle architecture affects muscle force output,
shortening velocity, and distance.
Provide a general explanation as to why some muscles are designed more
for rapid shortening velocity (e.g. hamstrings) or higher force output (e.g.
thigh muscles).
4. Define a
motor unit.
5. Define each of the following:
sarcomere, myofibril, and muscle fiber.
6. Describe in detail the structure of a sarcomere including its physical
arrangement and the function of each component.
7. Discuss in detail the steps of excitation-contraction. Include discussion of E-C regulation.
8. Contrast the structural, metabolic, and performance
characteristics of the three primary fiber types. Provide physiological explanations for the
differences in performance characteristics of fiber types.
9. Discuss the size principle for muscle fiber recruitment. Describe the pattern of motor unit
recruitment for several types of common exercise and activities (e.g. walking,
jogging, sprinting, lifting a light or a heavy
weight).
10. Explain the interpretation of an EMG tracing.
11. Discuss the regulation of muscle force output.
12. Explain the length-tension relationship and discuss its impact on force
output.
13. Explain the force-velocity relationship and discuss its impact on
force output. Contrast the
force-velocity relationship between concentric and eccentric muscle actions.
14. Discuss the primary mechanisms for strength improvements after 2
weeks of resistance training by an untrained and a trained individual. Suggest laboratory tests to support your
claims.
15. Identify the type of muscle action primarily responsible for
exercise-induced muscle damage and DOMS.
Provide a physiological reason to support your answer.
16. Identify the two mechanisms (i.e. during and after exercise) that
cause exercise-induced muscle damage.
17. Identify
the times after unaccustomed exercise when exercise-induced muscle damage and
DOMS are greatest.
18. Describe
the purpose and function of the two muscle receptors, muscle spindles and Golgi
tendon organs.
Exam
2 – ATP production and metabolic responses to exercise and training
17. Contrast the rate and capacity of the three energy systems to
provide ATP. Discuss the significance of
these comparisons in regards to ATP synthesis during different periods of
exercise as well as different exercise intensities.
18. Identify the fuels and its sources that are used for anaerobic ATP
production.
19. Explain the process of ATP synthesis from PCr. Discuss the significance of this system for
providing ATP during exercise. Describe
the limitations of this system.
20. Provide a general overview of glycolysis. Describe the fuels used in this system.
21. Explain the conditions that influence the metabolic fate of lactate.
22. Discuss the regulation of glycolysis during exercise.
23. Provide an overview of aerobic ATP production.
24. Explain the functions of glycolysis and beta oxidation with regards
to the Kreb's cycle.
25. Explain the function or purpose of the Kreb's
cycle.
26. Explain the function or purpose of the electron transport chain.
27. Define lipolysis.
28. Discuss the regulation of the aerobic energy system.
29. Discuss the contribution of fats and carbohydrates during exercise
of different intensities and duration.
30. Discuss how energy expenditure is commonly measured.
31. Describe the relationship of energy expenditure and exercise
intensity.
32. Discuss oxygen deficit.
Explain the reasoning for the changing contribution of the energy
systems with the onset of exercise.
33. Identify a common laboratory measurement to identify the relative
contributions of energy substrates. Be
familiar with interpretation of this measurement.
34. Provide a rationale for why higher rates of fats oxidation are
desirable during prolonged exercise.
35. Discuss the reasoning for the different contributions of energy
substrates with exercise of varying intensities and duration.
36. Discuss the effect of exercise intensity on catecholamine release
as well as its effects on metabolism.
37. Describe the concept of the lactate threshold. Suggest a laboratory protocol to identify the
lactate threshold. Be familiar with
typical values of blood lactate values during low and high exercise
intensities.
38. Explain how an individual with a lower VO2max can beat
someone who has a higher VO2max in an endurance race.
39. Discuss causes of fatigue for the three energy systems. Describe likely causes of fatigue from a
variety of common exercises and activities.
40. Discuss
metabolic adaptations to sprint and endurance training.
Exam
3 – Cardiovascular responses to exercise
41. Describe the intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of the heart.
42. Contrast the structure and function of the arterial, capillary, and
venous circulatory systems.
43. Explain the physiological reasoning for the constant changing of
arterial blood pressure.
44. Discuss factors that regulate cardiac output and total peripheral
resistance. Explain the effect of
cardiac output and total peripheral resistance on arterial blood pressure.
45. Discuss the local control of blood flow. Explain the circumstances for why changes in
local factors occur.
46. Describe the redistribution of blood with the onset of
exercise. Provide a rationale for this
response.
47. Describe the cardiovascular responses to exercise.
48. Describe the circulatory transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
49. Discuss the influences of gas exchange at the tissue level.
50. Describe the effects of blood pH on ventilation. Explain the ventilatory threshold.
51. Explain the circumstances for why RER would exceed 1.0.
52. Discuss the general factors of ventilatory regulation during
exercise.
53. Explain the concept of VO2max. Suggest a reason why VO2 fails to
increase in spite of further increases in power output. Be familiar with typical poor, average, and
high VO2max values for young adult females and males.
54. Describe
cardiovascular adaptations to endurance training.
Exam 4 –Thermoregulation;
Sports nutrition and ergogenic aids; Body composition; Health benefits from
regular exercise
55. Contract the primary mechanism for thermoregulation during rest and
exercise.
56. Discuss the cardiovascular effects of dehydration and overheating
during prolonged exercise.
57. Discuss the acclimatization of training in the heat.
58. Discuss the benefits of maintaining hydration during prolonged
exercise as well as suggested strategies for maintaining fluid balance.
59. Describe the benefits of a high carbohydrate diet. Explain which type of athlete would benefit
from this diet.
60. Discuss the physiological and performance benefits of carbohydrate
feedings during prolonged exercise.
61. Describe the optimal carbohydrate content of a sports drink. Provide an explanation for this level.
62. Discuss the optimal protein intake for an athlete involved in
high-volume training. Describe the
optimal diet to increase muscle mass.
63. Discuss the placebo effect that likely occurs with taking an
ergogenic aid to performance.
64. Contrast the anabolic and androgenic effects of steroid use to
increase muscle mass.
65. Discuss the effects of creatine supplementation with regards to
exercise performance and PCr synthesis.
66. Discuss the effects on performance and oxygen delivery to muscle
from blood doping, breathing 100% oxygen, and erythropoietin (EPO).
67. Explain the type or length of exercise for which sodium bicarbonate
loading would benefit performance.
68. Be familiar with low, average, and high
values for body composition in young adult females and males.
69. Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of using height-weight
tables, body mass index, underwater weighing, skinfold measurements, and
bioelectrical impedance for assessing body composition.
70. Describe assumptions and weaknesses of underwater weighings and the skinfold measurement procedures.
71. Discuss the role of energy intake and energy expenditure on body
weight.
72. Be able to calculate the relative contribution
of fat intake to total energy intake.
73. Discuss the effect of energy intake and exercise on the basal
(resting) metabolic rate.
74. Discuss general guidelines for weight loss.
75. Identify the three disorders of the Female Athlete Triad. Describe the cause of this problem.
76. Describe the relationship between amount of activity and risk of
early deaths.
77. Discuss the benefits of regular aerobic exercise on the
cardiovascular system.
78. Discuss the benefit of exercise in controlling blood glucose in a
diabetic.
79. Discuss the role of weight-bearing exercise on osteoporosis.
80. Identify the CDC guidelines for maintaining minimal health
levels. Identify the ACSM guidelines for
maintaining minimal fitness levels.