AQA GCSE PE Definitions
Ability - ANS-Inherited, stable traits that determine an individual's potential to learn or acquire
a skill.
Adaptability - ANS-The potential to change with ease.
Adrenaline - ANS-Natural hormone released to speed heart rate up.
Aerobic - ANS-With oxygen. When exercise is not too fast and is steady, the heart can supply all
the oxygen that the working muscles need.
Summarised as: glucose + oxygen → energy + carbon dioxide + water.
Aerobic training zone - ANS-Training in the aerobic training zone allows the performer to
develop their ability to work aerobically. It is 60-80% of your Maximum Heart Rate.
Aggression - ANS-A deliberate intent to harm or injure another person, which can be physical or
mental. It can be controlled within sport.
Agility - ANS-The ability to move and change direction quickly (at speed) whilst maintaining
control.
Agonist (prime mover) - ANS-Muscle or group responsible for the movement.
Altitude - ANS-A geographical area (of land) which is over 2,000 m above sea level.
Altitude training (traditional) - ANS-Training at altitude where there is less oxygen. The body
adapts by making more
red blood cells to carry oxygen. The additional oxygen carrying red blood cells is
an advantage for endurance athletes returning to sea level to compete.
Altitude sickness - ANS-Nausea caused by training at altitude.
Alveoli - ANS-Air sacs in the lungs
Amateur - ANS-Taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job.
Anabolic steroids - ANS-Artificially produced male hormones mimicking testosterone. They
promote
muscle and bone growth, and reduce recovery time. Often used by power
athletes, e.g sprinters.
, Anaerobic - ANS-Without oxygen. When exercise duration is short and at high intensity, the
heart
and lungs cannot supply blood and oxygen to muscles as fast as the respiring
cells need them.
Summarised as: glucose → energy + lactic acid.
Antagonist - ANS-Acts to produce the opposite action to the agonist. They work in antagonistic
pairs.
Arousal - ANS-A physical and mental state of
alertness/readiness, varying from deep sleep to intense excitement/alertness.
Articulating bones - ANS-Where two or more bones meet to allow movement at a joint.
Axis - ANS-An imaginary line through the body around which it rotates.
Backflow - ANS-The flowing backwards of blood. Valves in the veins prevent this from
happening.
Balance - ANS-The maintenance of the centre of mass over the base of support. Reference can
be made to whilst static (still) or dynamic (whilst moving).
Balanced diet - ANS-A diet that contains the right quantity and different types of food based on
your body's needs.
Beta blockers - ANS-Drugs that are used to steady nerves by controlling heart rate. They have a
calming and relaxing effect.
(Blood) doping - ANS-Defined by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the misuse of
techniques
and/or substances to increase one's red blood cell count.
Blood pressure - ANS-The pressure that the blood is under. The two types of pressure is
systolic and diastolic.
Body composition - ANS-The percentage of body weight which is fat and non-fat (muscle and
bone).
Calorie - ANS-A unit which measures heat or energy production in the body, normally
expressed as Kcal.
Carbohydrate - ANS-The body's preferred energy source.
Cardiac cycle - ANS-The sequence of events that occur when the heart beats.
Ability - ANS-Inherited, stable traits that determine an individual's potential to learn or acquire
a skill.
Adaptability - ANS-The potential to change with ease.
Adrenaline - ANS-Natural hormone released to speed heart rate up.
Aerobic - ANS-With oxygen. When exercise is not too fast and is steady, the heart can supply all
the oxygen that the working muscles need.
Summarised as: glucose + oxygen → energy + carbon dioxide + water.
Aerobic training zone - ANS-Training in the aerobic training zone allows the performer to
develop their ability to work aerobically. It is 60-80% of your Maximum Heart Rate.
Aggression - ANS-A deliberate intent to harm or injure another person, which can be physical or
mental. It can be controlled within sport.
Agility - ANS-The ability to move and change direction quickly (at speed) whilst maintaining
control.
Agonist (prime mover) - ANS-Muscle or group responsible for the movement.
Altitude - ANS-A geographical area (of land) which is over 2,000 m above sea level.
Altitude training (traditional) - ANS-Training at altitude where there is less oxygen. The body
adapts by making more
red blood cells to carry oxygen. The additional oxygen carrying red blood cells is
an advantage for endurance athletes returning to sea level to compete.
Altitude sickness - ANS-Nausea caused by training at altitude.
Alveoli - ANS-Air sacs in the lungs
Amateur - ANS-Taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job.
Anabolic steroids - ANS-Artificially produced male hormones mimicking testosterone. They
promote
muscle and bone growth, and reduce recovery time. Often used by power
athletes, e.g sprinters.
, Anaerobic - ANS-Without oxygen. When exercise duration is short and at high intensity, the
heart
and lungs cannot supply blood and oxygen to muscles as fast as the respiring
cells need them.
Summarised as: glucose → energy + lactic acid.
Antagonist - ANS-Acts to produce the opposite action to the agonist. They work in antagonistic
pairs.
Arousal - ANS-A physical and mental state of
alertness/readiness, varying from deep sleep to intense excitement/alertness.
Articulating bones - ANS-Where two or more bones meet to allow movement at a joint.
Axis - ANS-An imaginary line through the body around which it rotates.
Backflow - ANS-The flowing backwards of blood. Valves in the veins prevent this from
happening.
Balance - ANS-The maintenance of the centre of mass over the base of support. Reference can
be made to whilst static (still) or dynamic (whilst moving).
Balanced diet - ANS-A diet that contains the right quantity and different types of food based on
your body's needs.
Beta blockers - ANS-Drugs that are used to steady nerves by controlling heart rate. They have a
calming and relaxing effect.
(Blood) doping - ANS-Defined by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the misuse of
techniques
and/or substances to increase one's red blood cell count.
Blood pressure - ANS-The pressure that the blood is under. The two types of pressure is
systolic and diastolic.
Body composition - ANS-The percentage of body weight which is fat and non-fat (muscle and
bone).
Calorie - ANS-A unit which measures heat or energy production in the body, normally
expressed as Kcal.
Carbohydrate - ANS-The body's preferred energy source.
Cardiac cycle - ANS-The sequence of events that occur when the heart beats.
