+
Absolute angle Angular orientation of a body segment with respect to a fixed line of reference
+
Acromioclavicular joint Irregular joint between the acromion process of the scapula and the distal clavicle
+
Active insufficiency Limited ability of a two-joint muscle to produce force when joint position places the muscle on slack
+
Active stretching Stretching of muscles, tendons, and ligaments produced by active development of tension in the antagonist muscles
+
Acute loading Application of a single force of sufficient magnitude to cause injury to a biological tissue
+
Agonist Role played by a muscle acting to cause a movement
+
Amenorrhea Cessation of menses
+
Anatomical reference position Erect standing position with all body parts, including the palms of the hands, facing forward; considered the starting position for body segment movements
+
Angle of attack Angle between the longitudinal axis of a body and the direction of the fluid flow
+
Angle of projection The direction at which a body is projected with respect to the horizontal
+
Angular Involving rotation around a central line or point
+
Angular acceleration Rate of change in angular velocity
+
Angular displacement Change in the angular position or orientation of a line segment
+
Angular impulse Change in angular momentum equal to the product of torque and time interval over which the torque acts
+
Angular momentum Quantity of angular motion possessed by a body; measured as the product of moment of inertia and angular velocity
+
Angular velocity Rate of change in the angular position or orientation of a line segment
+
Anisotropic Exhibiting different mechanical properties in response to loads from different directions
+
Annulus fibrosus Thick, fibrocartilaginous ring that forms the exterior of the intervertebral disc
+
Antagonist Role played by a muscle acting to slow or stop a movement
+
Anteroposterior axis Imaginary line around which frontal plane rotations occur
+
Anthropometric Related to the dimensions and weights of body segments
+
Apex The highest point in the trajectory of a projectile
+
Appendicular skeleton Bones composing the body appendages
+
Archimedes’ principle Physical law stating that the buoyant force acting on a body is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body
+
Articular capsule Double-layered membrane that surrounds every synovial joint
+
Articular cartilage Protective layer of dense white connective tissue covering the articulating bone surfaces at diarthrodial joints
+
Articular fibrocartilage Soft-tissue discs or menisci that intervene between articulating bones
+
Average Occurring over a designated time interval
+
Axial Directed along the longitudinal axis of a body
+
Axial skeleton The skull, vertebrae, sternum, and ribs
+
Axis of rotation Imaginary line perpendicular to the plane of rotation and passing through the center of rotation
+
Balance Ability to control equilibrium
+
Ballistic stretching A series ...