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Sunday 24 April 2011

10. Bodybuilding Terminology / Glossary

Please note that these terminologies are only in relation to how they are used for bodybuilding. There may be other more detailed explanations of these terminologies as they are often medical terms as well as bodybuilding terms.

Finally I did only the term that I could think of so this is in no way an exhaustive list of bodybuilding terms.
 
A
Adenosine Triphosphate: A substance found in all cells, but particularly in muscle cells. When split by enzyme action, energy is produced. The substance which stores the energy of the muscle

Amino Acids: Amino acids are the basic structural building units of proteins. They form short polymer chains called peptides or polypeptides which in turn form structures called proteins.

Anabolic: the processes of metabolism that result in growth of muscle cells

Androgenic: the activity of anything that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates.

Androgen: androgens are steroid derivatives of androstane They are also the precursor of all oestrogens, the female sex hormones. The primary, and most well-known, androgen is testosterone.

Antioxidants: Antioxidants are molecules that stop the stealing of electrons by giving one of its own electrons to the free radicals

B
Bulking Up: Gaining bodyweight by adding both fat & muscle

Burn: The sensation in a muscle that comes from the lactic acid and pH buildup resulting from exercising the muscle to failure (see pump also)

Biosynthesis: is a phenomenon where chemical compounds are produced from simpler reagents. Biosynthesis, unlike chemical synthesis, takes place within living organisms and is generally catalyzed by enzymes. The process is vital part of metabolism:

C
Carb: an abbreviation for carbohydrate

Carbohydrate: an energy source that is consumed as food which is not either fat or protein. Carbohydrates do not come from animal sources

Catabolic: the destructive process in the body involving the release of energy and the breakdown of muscle tissues. BCAA are believed to slow this process when caused from exercise.

Collagen: The connective tissue that holds the muscle to the bones, as you get stronger and lift heavier the stress you put on your structure becomes tremendous. If your connective tissue is not as healthy and strong as it should be (a problem often seen in steroid users), risk of injury dramatically increases.

Cutting Up: stripping the body of excess body fat while retaining maximum muscularity
 
D
Definition: Extremely low body fat coupled with superior muscle separation and  vascularity

E
 
Estrogens: are a group of steroid compounds that function as the primary female sex hormone

F
 
Failure: Doing a set until you can't do any more reps on your own I think its important to note that if your workout partner has to do more than about 5 % of the work you have gone past failure and are on the road to injury ( was that my opinion)

Fat: an energy source that is consumed as food which is can come from either fruit, vegetable of animal sources

Free Radicals: unstable molecules that are missing a paired electron. They attack normal healthy molecules by stealing the electron from it causing that molecule to become a free radical. Free radicals are formed by the immune system to fight of viruses and bacteria, but the outside environment like cigarette smoke, pollution, herbicides and exercise can also cause the body to produce free radicals.

Fenugreek: is an herb (spice) shown to be effective in diabetics in stabilizing blood sugar levels. It also stimulate the Adrenal cortex initiating body's own production of androgens, thus making you stronger, bigger, and enhancing your sex drive

G
 
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) commonly called the body’s natural tranquilizer, GABA is an amino acid produced in the brain. It acts as a neurotransmitter and helps to keep stress-related nerve impulses at bay.

Glucagons: a protein hormone and that promotes an increase in the sugar content of the blood by increasing the rate of glycogen breakdown in the liver

Glycogen: a tasteless polysaccharide (complex Sugar) that is the main form in which carbohydrate is stored in muscle and liver tissue

H
 
Hormone: a chemical messenger form one cell that produces a specific effect on other cells remote form the cell of it’s origin

Humerus: a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. On a skeleton, it fits between the scapula and the radius and ulna.

I
 
Insulin: a pancreatic hormone that is essential especially for the metabolism of carbohydrates and is used in the treatment and control of diabetes

Isoflavone: is a phytoestrogen that is supposed to be useful in treating cancer
 
J
K
 
L
 
Lats: A term which is short for the latissimus dorsi. This Latin term translates roughly into 'lateral muscles of the back'.

Latissimus Dorsi: This Latin term translates roughly into 'lateral muscles of the back'.

Lutenizing hormone: (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are called gonadotropins because stimulate the gonads ( the testes in males, and ovaries in females) They are not necessary for life, but are essential for reproduction.

M
 
Mass: Size - lots of it. If you train hard and eat right, you can add muscle metabolism

Metabolism: the chemical process in the body where energy is utilized for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated

Monosaccharide: a simple sugar.

Micronutrient: an organic compound (as a vitamin) essential in small amounts to the healthy growth of an animal (bodybuilder)

Myocardial infarction: is a heart attack which occures when part of the heart is either injured or part of the heart dies because of sudden and total interuption of blood flow to that area.

Myocardial stimulatant: any substance or action that would stimulate the muscles in the heart to contract faster or continue to contract.

Mycardium: is the muscular tissue of the heart which is responsible for contraction of the heart. The muscles of the heart contracts likeother tissue but also conduct electriticy like nerves. The mycardium get it blood from cornary arteries, if these arteries are blocked by atherosclerosis (deposits forming on the inner walls) or by thrombosis (blood clot) it can lead to angina pectoris (chest pain) or myocardial infraction (heart attack)

N

Neurotransmitter: are chemicals that are used to relay, nerve impulses across a synapses.

Nitrogen balance: is the difference between the amount of nitrogen taken in and the amount excreted or lost. If you excrete more nitrogen than you consume your body will break down muscle tissue to get the nitrogen it needs, this is called a negative nitrogen balance or state and muscle loss will occur. If you consume more nitrogen than you excrete you will be in an anabolic or muscle building state hence positive nitrogen balance or state.

O
 
Oxidative Damage: damage caused to cellular constituents such as DNA, proteins and lipids by reactive oxygen species ROS (antioxidants like iron and Zinc) and free radicals. Accumulation of such damage can result in progressive destruction of cells and tissues. Oxidative damage is believed to be the root cause of many diseases including cancer, heart disease and aging.

P
 
Pancreatic: any hormone being secreted from the pancreas ( insulin and glycogen)

Precursor: A substance from which another substance is formed, especially by a metabolic reaction.
Phytoestrogens are plant compounds which have effects similar to that of estrogen, but somewhat weaker

Plates: The weights that you put on an Olympic dumbbell, specifically a 45 pound weight. Smaller weights are called quarters (25 pounds), dimes (10pounds), and nickels (5 pounds).

Polysaccharides: a carbohydrate that is made up of two or more monosaccharides often referred to as complex carbohydrates such as cellulose, starch, or glycogen

Protein: an energy source that is consumed as food which is made up of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. Proteins are essential to the structure of all living cells and viruses. For bodybuilding purposed we say the proteins are energy source which feeds and develops muscle tissue.

Pump: that feeling of you muscle becoming full with blood as a result of completing a set of and exercise.
 
Q

R

Radius: The large bone on the thumb side of the forearm.

Rep: One complete execution of an exercise movement (e.g. 1 arm curl)

S

Scapula: also called the shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle .The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle.

Set: A set is a series of reps organized into groups. These groups are commonly organized in counts of 10 to 12 repetitions. For intermediate and advance bodybuilders there are set of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 and 25.).

Six pack: abdominal muscles so well developed that you can see the separate muscle under the skin

Spot: To stand guard while someone performs a set with heavy weights. A 'spotters' main duty is to prevent injury in case that someone cannot finish his set.

Stacking: Usually mixing one or more supplements together with the hopes of exponential results.

Steroid: any of numerous compounds containing a 17-carbon 4-ring system Anabolic steroids are a class of natural and synthetic hormones that promote cell growth and division, resulting in growth of muscle tissue and
sometimes bone size and strength.

Supraspinatus: A muscle that is responsible for elevating the arm and moving it away from the body. It has an origin at the top of the scalpula and an insertion at the top of the hurmeus

Synapses: the point in which nerve impulses pass form one neuron to another.

Synthesis: the production of a substance or compound by combining of simpler compounds or by the breaking down of a complex compound.

T

Tendon The fibrous band of tissue that connects a muscle to bone. It is composed mainly of collagen.

U

Ulna: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm that extends from the wrist to the elbow

V
Vascular: The visibility of veins on a bodybuilder as a result of exercise and low body fat (and perhaps higher blood volume).

Vasodilator: is any substance used to cause the blood vessel in the body to become wider by relaxing the smooth muscle tissues of the vessel wall. This will result in lower blood pressure but can also increase blood flow to a worked muscle give a greater feeling of fullness in the muscle

W
Water

X
Y
Z

 
References
Pearsall, T (1993) Weight Lost the Pearsall’s Way A diet and Workout Strategy New York: Independent Publishing Co

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