NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

Chapter 2 Lab Activity

Task Outline
Task 1 The Nervous System
Task 2 The Skeletal System
Task 3 The Muscular System
Task 4 The Endocrine System

Task 1

The Nervous SystemInstructions

Human movement is accomplished through the functional integration of three

systems within the human body: the nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. The
nerves, muscles, and joints must work together, or be linked (chain) to produce
motion (kinetic) or human movement. The three systems responsible for human
movement are also referred to as the kinetic chain. This activity will help the
student understand the anatomy of the nervous system and its importance for
optimal human movement.
Describe the three primary functions of the nervous system: sensory, integrative,
and motor functions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________
Describe the three main functional classifications of neurons: sensory neurons,
interneurons, and motor neurons.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________

Describe the central and peripheral nervous systems.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2014 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an Ascend Learning Company

NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

Chapter 2 Lab Activity
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________
Describe the function of muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________

Task 2

Skeletal SystemInstructions

The skeletal system serves many important functions; it provides the shape and
form for our bodies in addition to supporting, protecting, allowing bodily movement,
producing blood for the body, and storing minerals. The skeletal system is a vital
part of human movement via the interaction of the muscular and skeletal systems.
This activity will help the student understand the anatomy of the skeletal system
and its importance for optimal human movement.
Describe the five major types of bones in the skeletal system: long bones, short
bones, flat bones, irregular bones, and sesamoid bones.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the five difference categories of the vertebral column: cervical, thoracic,
lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2014 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an Ascend Learning Company

NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

Chapter 2 Lab Activity
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the structure and function of the following synovial joints: gliding,
condyloid, hinge, saddle, pivot, and ball-and-socket joints.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the effects of exercise on bone mass.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Task 3

Muscular SystemInstructions

The nervous system is the control center for movement production, and the skeletal
system provides the structural framework for our bodies. However, to complete the
cycle of movement production, the body must have a device that the nervous
system can command to move the skeletal system. This is the muscular system.
This activity will help the student understand the anatomy of the skeletal system
and its importance for optimal human movement.
Describe the all or nothing law.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2014 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an Ascend Learning Company

NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

Chapter 2 Lab Activity
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the difference between type I and type II muscle fibers.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the following muscle categorizations: agonist, synergist, stabilizer, and
antagonist.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Task 4

EndocrineInstructions

The endocrine system is a system of glands that secrete hormones into the
bloodstream to regulate a variety of bodily functions, including the control of mood,
growth and development, tissue function, and metabolism. This activity will help the
student understand the anatomy of the endocrine system and its importance for
optimal human movement.
Describe how insulin and glucagon control blood glucose levels .
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2014 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an Ascend Learning Company

NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

Chapter 2 Lab Activity
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the effects of exercise on growth hormone, testosterone, and cortisol .
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2014 by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, an Ascend Learning Company