NSCA CSCS Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Abrasion - CORRECT ANSWER - A scraping away of a portion of the skin or mucous
membrane
Acclimatize - CORRECT ANSWER - To physiologically adapt to an unfamiliar
environment and achieve a new steady state
Actin - CORRECT ANSWER - Thin contractile protein in a myofibril
Action - CORRECT ANSWER - The stage of the transtheoretical model of behavioral
change during which the individual started a new behavior less than six months ago
Agonist - CORRECT ANSWER - The muscle directly responsible for observed movement
also called the prime mover
Ambient temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - Room temperature
Amortization phase - CORRECT ANSWER - The transition period between the eccentric
and concentric actions during plyometrics
Antagonist - CORRECT ANSWER - The muscle that acts in opposition to the contraction
produced by the agonist
Apnea - CORRECT ANSWER - A temporary absence or cessation of breath
Asana - CORRECT ANSWER - A posture or manner of sitting, as in the practice of yoga
,Associative stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The second stage of learning a
motor skill, when performers have mastered the fundamentals and can concentrate on skill
refinement
Ataxia - CORRECT ANSWER - Failure of muscular coordination
Auscultation - CORRECT ANSWER - The technical term for listening to the internal
sounds of the body (like a heartbeat)
Autogenic inhibition - CORRECT ANSWER - An automatic reflex relaxation caused by
stimulation of the golgi tendon organ
Autonomous stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The third stage of learning a
motor skill, when the skill has become habitual or automatic for the performer
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) - CORRECT ANSWER - The energy required to complete
the sum total of life-sustaining processess
Claudication - CORRECT ANSWER - Cramp-like pains in the calves caused by poor
circulation
Co-contraction - CORRECT ANSWER - The mutual coordination of antagonist muscles
to maintain a position
Cognitive stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The first stage of learning a motor
skill when performers make many gross errors and have extremely variable performances
Comorbidities - CORRECT ANSWER - Diseases in addition to a primary disease
Contraindication - CORRECT ANSWER - Any condition that renders some particular
movement, activity, or treatment improper or desirable
,Contralateral - CORRECT ANSWER - The opposite side of the body; the other limb
Contusion - CORRECT ANSWER - A wound, such as a bruise, in which the skin is not
broken
Creep - CORRECT ANSWER - The tendency of connective tissue to slowly deform
permanently under the influences of applied stress
Crepitus - CORRECT ANSWER - A crackling sound produced by air moving in the joint
space
Cyanosis - CORRECT ANSWER - A bluish discoloration, especially of the skin and
mucous membranes, due to reduced hemoglobin in the blood
Diminishing returns - CORRECT ANSWER - Principle stating that after a certain level of
performance has been achieved, there will be a decline in the effectibeness of training at
furhering a person's performance level
Diuretic - CORRECT ANSWER - Makes you pee
Dysarthria - CORRECT ANSWER - A group of speech disorders caused by disturbances
in the strength or coordination of the muscles of speech
Dyslipidemia - CORRECT ANSWER - A condition characterized by abnormal blood lipid
profles
Dyspnea - CORRECT ANSWER - SOB, shortness of breath
, Eccentric - CORRECT ANSWER - A type of isotonic muscle contraction in which the
muscle lengthens against a resistance; "negative reps"
Ecchymosis - CORRECT ANSWER - The escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured
blood vessels marked by black-and-blue or purple discolored area
Edema - CORRECT ANSWER - Swelling
Eschars - CORRECT ANSWER - Scabs from a burn
Etiology - CORRECT ANSWER - The cause of a condition
Fast-twitch muscle fiber - CORRECT ANSWER - Type II fibers; throwing, jumping,
sprinting
Fibromyalgia - CORRECT ANSWER - Diffuse pain in the muscles and surrounding
connective tissues, usually accompanied by malaise
Gait - CORRECT ANSWER - The manner or style of walking
Golgi tendon organ - CORRECT ANSWER - A sensory organ within a tendon that, when
stimulation, causes an inhibition of the entire muscle group to protect against too much force
Gynoid - CORRECT ANSWER - Adipose tissue or body fat distributed on the hips and in
the lower body (pear shaped)
Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER - A large bruise or collection of blood under the skin
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Abrasion - CORRECT ANSWER - A scraping away of a portion of the skin or mucous
membrane
Acclimatize - CORRECT ANSWER - To physiologically adapt to an unfamiliar
environment and achieve a new steady state
Actin - CORRECT ANSWER - Thin contractile protein in a myofibril
Action - CORRECT ANSWER - The stage of the transtheoretical model of behavioral
change during which the individual started a new behavior less than six months ago
Agonist - CORRECT ANSWER - The muscle directly responsible for observed movement
also called the prime mover
Ambient temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - Room temperature
Amortization phase - CORRECT ANSWER - The transition period between the eccentric
and concentric actions during plyometrics
Antagonist - CORRECT ANSWER - The muscle that acts in opposition to the contraction
produced by the agonist
Apnea - CORRECT ANSWER - A temporary absence or cessation of breath
Asana - CORRECT ANSWER - A posture or manner of sitting, as in the practice of yoga
,Associative stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The second stage of learning a
motor skill, when performers have mastered the fundamentals and can concentrate on skill
refinement
Ataxia - CORRECT ANSWER - Failure of muscular coordination
Auscultation - CORRECT ANSWER - The technical term for listening to the internal
sounds of the body (like a heartbeat)
Autogenic inhibition - CORRECT ANSWER - An automatic reflex relaxation caused by
stimulation of the golgi tendon organ
Autonomous stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The third stage of learning a
motor skill, when the skill has become habitual or automatic for the performer
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) - CORRECT ANSWER - The energy required to complete
the sum total of life-sustaining processess
Claudication - CORRECT ANSWER - Cramp-like pains in the calves caused by poor
circulation
Co-contraction - CORRECT ANSWER - The mutual coordination of antagonist muscles
to maintain a position
Cognitive stage of learning - CORRECT ANSWER - The first stage of learning a motor
skill when performers make many gross errors and have extremely variable performances
Comorbidities - CORRECT ANSWER - Diseases in addition to a primary disease
Contraindication - CORRECT ANSWER - Any condition that renders some particular
movement, activity, or treatment improper or desirable
,Contralateral - CORRECT ANSWER - The opposite side of the body; the other limb
Contusion - CORRECT ANSWER - A wound, such as a bruise, in which the skin is not
broken
Creep - CORRECT ANSWER - The tendency of connective tissue to slowly deform
permanently under the influences of applied stress
Crepitus - CORRECT ANSWER - A crackling sound produced by air moving in the joint
space
Cyanosis - CORRECT ANSWER - A bluish discoloration, especially of the skin and
mucous membranes, due to reduced hemoglobin in the blood
Diminishing returns - CORRECT ANSWER - Principle stating that after a certain level of
performance has been achieved, there will be a decline in the effectibeness of training at
furhering a person's performance level
Diuretic - CORRECT ANSWER - Makes you pee
Dysarthria - CORRECT ANSWER - A group of speech disorders caused by disturbances
in the strength or coordination of the muscles of speech
Dyslipidemia - CORRECT ANSWER - A condition characterized by abnormal blood lipid
profles
Dyspnea - CORRECT ANSWER - SOB, shortness of breath
, Eccentric - CORRECT ANSWER - A type of isotonic muscle contraction in which the
muscle lengthens against a resistance; "negative reps"
Ecchymosis - CORRECT ANSWER - The escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured
blood vessels marked by black-and-blue or purple discolored area
Edema - CORRECT ANSWER - Swelling
Eschars - CORRECT ANSWER - Scabs from a burn
Etiology - CORRECT ANSWER - The cause of a condition
Fast-twitch muscle fiber - CORRECT ANSWER - Type II fibers; throwing, jumping,
sprinting
Fibromyalgia - CORRECT ANSWER - Diffuse pain in the muscles and surrounding
connective tissues, usually accompanied by malaise
Gait - CORRECT ANSWER - The manner or style of walking
Golgi tendon organ - CORRECT ANSWER - A sensory organ within a tendon that, when
stimulation, causes an inhibition of the entire muscle group to protect against too much force
Gynoid - CORRECT ANSWER - Adipose tissue or body fat distributed on the hips and in
the lower body (pear shaped)
Hematoma - CORRECT ANSWER - A large bruise or collection of blood under the skin
