LWT 251 - Exercise Physiology

Credits: 4

Emphasizes the physiological responses of the human body to acute and chronic bouts of exercise. Presents the study of health/fitness appraisal, exercise prescription, quantifying the energy cost of work (physical activity), identifying physiological and psychological responses to exercise, and the administration of exercise programs to diverse populations. Credit may be earned in BIO 251 or LWT 185 but not both.

Prerequisite(s): BIO 101W or BIO 140W or BIO 152W
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 60 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: No

Outcomes and Objectives

Describe and explain the concepts and components of Exercise Physiology.
1. Define the terms homeostasis and steady state.
  1. Describe and explain the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system. AAA. Contrast the role of neural adaptations to that of hypertrophy in the increase in strength that occurs with resistance training.
2. Explain the term negative feedback
  1. Define the terms isotonic and isometric. BBB. Describe health-related fitness using the wellness model.
3. Define what is meant by the gain of a control system
  1. Describe and explain the following terms: CC-1. Simple twitch CC-2. Summation CC-3. Tetanus. CCC. Identify the three major categories of risk factors and list examples of specific risk factors in each.
4. Describe factors influencing physical fitness in the United States over the past century.
  1. Discuss the relationship between skeletal muscle fiber types and performance. DDD. Describe the role of “personal responsibility” as a determinant of our well-being.
5. Discuss the function of the cell membrane, nucleus, and mitochondria.
  1. Discuss the structure and function of a muscle group. EEE. Describe and explain the difference between primary and secondary risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).
6. Define the following terms: endergonic reactions, exergonic reactions, coupled reactions, first and second law of thermodynamics, and bioenergetics.
  1. Describe and explain the function of Golgi tendon organ. FFF. Identify the major risk factors associated CHD.
7. Describe the role of enzymes as catalysts in cellular chemical reactions.
  1. Describe and explain the design and function of the circulatory system. GGG. Identify the U.S. Dietary Goals relative to (a) carbohydrate and fats as a percent of energy intake, (b) salt and cholesterol, and (c) saturated and unsaturated fats.
8. Discuss the aerobic production of ATP.
  1. Describe and explain the cardiac cycle and the associated electrical activity recorded via the electrocardiogram. HHH. List the classes of nutrients.
9. Describe and explain general scheme used to regulate metabolic pathways involved in bioenergetics.
  1. Discuss the pattern of redistribution of blood flow during exercise. III. Identify the primary role of carbohydrates, the two major classes, and the recommended changes in the American diet to improve health status.
10. Discuss the interaction between aerobic and anaerobic ATP production during exercise.
  1. List and discuss those factors responsible for the regulation of stroke volume during exercise. JJJ. Explain how a sum of skinfolds can be “converted” to a percent body fatness value.
11. Identify the enzymes that are considered rate limiting in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.
  1. Discuss the regulation of cardiac output during exercise. KKK. List the recommended percent body fatness values for health and fitness for males and females, and explain the concern for both high and low values.
12. Discuss the relationship between exercise intensity/duration and the bioenergetics pathways that are most responsible for production of ATP during various types of exercise.
  1. Explain the circulatory response to various types of exercise. LLL. Distinguish between obesity due to hyperplasia of fat cells and that due to hypertrophy of fat cells.
13. Define the terms oxygen deficit, lactate threshold, and oxygen debt.
  1. Identify the factors that regulate local blood flow during exercise. MMM. Summarize the evidence on the order of recruitment of muscle fibers with increasing intensities of activity, and the type of metabolism upon which each is dependent.
14. Discuss several possible explanations for the sudden rise in blood-lactate concentration during incremental exercise.
  1. Explain the principal physiological function of the pulmonary system. NNN. Describe the factors limiting performance in all-out activities lasting less than ten seconds.
15. Explain why fat metabolism is