NASM/AFAA Group Fitness Instructor
Exam UPDATED Study Guide
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
- The Nervous System (2 Components) - CORRECT ANSWERS
Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord; coordinates
activity of body parts) & Peripheral Nervous System (all nerves
branching off the spinal cord, extending out to the body)
Mechanoreceptors - CORRECT ANSWERS Sensory receptors
responsible for sensing distortion in body tissues. Includes muscle
spindles and Golgi Tendon organs
Golgi Tendon Organs - CORRECT ANSWERS Sense changes
in muscular tension, respond by -relaxing- the muscle to slow
controlled movement
Muscle Spindles - CORRECT ANSWERS Sense changes in
muscular length, respond by -contracting- muscles that are
lengthening too quickly and forcefully
What are Type 1 (slow twitch) Muscle Fibers known for? -
CORRECT ANSWERS Being more aerobic, slower to reach
maximal contraction, and resistant to fatigue.
What type of exercises are Type 1 (slow twitch) Muscle Fibers
designed for? - CORRECT ANSWERS Endurance-related
events, lower resistance loads, longer duration exercises, or exercises
with a high number of repetitions.
,Characteristics of Type 2 (fast twitch) Muscle Fibers - CORRECT
ANSWERS More anaerobic; produce more speed than
strength; faster to fatigue.
Function of Type 2 (fast twitch) Muscle Fibers - CORRECT
ANSWERS Designed to maximize efficiency at short,
powerful movements or exercises, and can include higher levels of
resistance. For example, a single tuck jump or heavy squat.
Sarcomeres - CORRECT ANSWERS In all skeletal muscles,
individual contractile units that contain "actin" and "myosin"
filaments
What is the function of tendons? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Anchoring the end of the muscle to bone to produce force
What is the blood flow like in tendons? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Limited blood flow, making them slow to repair
How are tendons classified in terms of body systems? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Considered connective tissue between the
muscular and skeletal systems
What is a concentric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle shortens while developing
tension to overcome a resistive force (gravity).
, What is an eccentric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle lengthens while developing
tension.
What is an isometric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle exerts force equal to the
force placed on it, resulting in no visible change in muscle length.
What is an agonist muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS A muscle
that is directly responsible for a specific movement; also called the
prime mover.
What is an antagonist muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS A
muscle that performs the opposite movement of the agonist or prime
mover; also called the opposing muscle group.
What are the components of the axial skeleton? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Skull, rib cage, and vertebral column
What are the components of the appendicular skeleton? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Bones of upper and lower extremities
What is the function of ligaments in the skeletal system? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Connect bone to bone; have limited blood flow
and are slow to repair
Exam UPDATED Study Guide
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
- The Nervous System (2 Components) - CORRECT ANSWERS
Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord; coordinates
activity of body parts) & Peripheral Nervous System (all nerves
branching off the spinal cord, extending out to the body)
Mechanoreceptors - CORRECT ANSWERS Sensory receptors
responsible for sensing distortion in body tissues. Includes muscle
spindles and Golgi Tendon organs
Golgi Tendon Organs - CORRECT ANSWERS Sense changes
in muscular tension, respond by -relaxing- the muscle to slow
controlled movement
Muscle Spindles - CORRECT ANSWERS Sense changes in
muscular length, respond by -contracting- muscles that are
lengthening too quickly and forcefully
What are Type 1 (slow twitch) Muscle Fibers known for? -
CORRECT ANSWERS Being more aerobic, slower to reach
maximal contraction, and resistant to fatigue.
What type of exercises are Type 1 (slow twitch) Muscle Fibers
designed for? - CORRECT ANSWERS Endurance-related
events, lower resistance loads, longer duration exercises, or exercises
with a high number of repetitions.
,Characteristics of Type 2 (fast twitch) Muscle Fibers - CORRECT
ANSWERS More anaerobic; produce more speed than
strength; faster to fatigue.
Function of Type 2 (fast twitch) Muscle Fibers - CORRECT
ANSWERS Designed to maximize efficiency at short,
powerful movements or exercises, and can include higher levels of
resistance. For example, a single tuck jump or heavy squat.
Sarcomeres - CORRECT ANSWERS In all skeletal muscles,
individual contractile units that contain "actin" and "myosin"
filaments
What is the function of tendons? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Anchoring the end of the muscle to bone to produce force
What is the blood flow like in tendons? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Limited blood flow, making them slow to repair
How are tendons classified in terms of body systems? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Considered connective tissue between the
muscular and skeletal systems
What is a concentric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle shortens while developing
tension to overcome a resistive force (gravity).
, What is an eccentric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle lengthens while developing
tension.
What is an isometric muscle action? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A muscle action where the muscle exerts force equal to the
force placed on it, resulting in no visible change in muscle length.
What is an agonist muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS A muscle
that is directly responsible for a specific movement; also called the
prime mover.
What is an antagonist muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS A
muscle that performs the opposite movement of the agonist or prime
mover; also called the opposing muscle group.
What are the components of the axial skeleton? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Skull, rib cage, and vertebral column
What are the components of the appendicular skeleton? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Bones of upper and lower extremities
What is the function of ligaments in the skeletal system? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Connect bone to bone; have limited blood flow
and are slow to repair
