CSEP CEP PRACTICAL EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ What is the Sliding Filament Model? Answer: Actin filaments
interact with myosin filaments appearing to "slide" over each other -
results in shortening of sarcomere and hence contraction of the
muscle fiber
◉ What is a motor unit? Answer: A single motor neuron and the
muscle fibers it innervates
- the less muscle fibers a motor neuron innervates, the more fine
motor control that region has
◉ Difference between ligaments and tendons? Answer: Ligaments:
fibrous connective tissue connecting bone to bone
Tendons: tough fibrous connective tissue connective muscle to bone
◉ What are the two main phases of contraction? Answer: 1)
Isometric Contraction
- no visible shortening of muscle, tension is increasing
,- sarcomere is shortening but elastic components parallel to muscle
fibre are stretching
2) Isotonic Contraction
- visible shortening of muscle, tension remains constant
◉ What is Bowditch's Law? (The "all-or-nothing" law) Answer: MU's
are either activated all the way or not at all
- stimulus threshold
◉ What is the Henneman size principle? Answer: Number of MU's
activated is proportional to stimulus received
- smaller MU's activated first moving to larger MU's at highest
threshold
◉ Characteristics of Slow-Twitch Oxidative Fibers (Type 1) Answer: -
Structure: small diameter, high capillary density, large amount of
mitochondria
Metabolic:
- depend on aerobic cellular respiration (lots of ATP but slower
because of length of oxidative pathway)
- Slowest contraction speed b/c of decreased myosin ATPase activity
- high myoglobin levels
,- store energy as triglycerides
- Function: endurance (very fatigue resistant), postural muscles (low
stimulation threshold), lowest power production
◉ Characteristics of Fast Oxidative fibers (Type 2a) Answer: -
Structure: largest diameter, high capillary density, LOTS of
mitochondria, moderate amount of stored glycogen
Metabolic:
- depends on aerobic conditions (uses glucose +oxygen) but can
switch to anaerobic (PCr)
- fast contractility due to high myosin ATPase activity
- myoglobin density relatively high
Function:
- second fiber type recruited; moderate power production
- walking muscles (moderately fatigue resistant ~<30 mins)
- high intensity (ie. sprinting) but for no longer than 1 min.
◉ Characteristics of Fast Glycolytic fibers (Type 2x) Answer:
Structure: intermediate diameter, low capillary density (very little
mitochondria or myoglobin), high glycogen storage (anaerobic)
, Metabolic:
- anaerobic: creatine phosphate pathway and glycogenolysis
- VERY high myosin ATPase activity; fastest contractility
- last fiber type to be recruited
Function:
- quick burst power activities (highest power production, lowest
fatigue resistance; seconds - <1 min)
- weight lifting, sprints etc.
◉ What parts of the body act as: fulcrum, effort force, lever, and load
in a biomechanical system? Answer: Lever: bone that the muscle
moves
Effort Force: the muscle
Fulcrum: the joint
Load: object being moved
◉ What are the majority of levers in the body? What does this look
like? Answer: Third Class Levers
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ What is the Sliding Filament Model? Answer: Actin filaments
interact with myosin filaments appearing to "slide" over each other -
results in shortening of sarcomere and hence contraction of the
muscle fiber
◉ What is a motor unit? Answer: A single motor neuron and the
muscle fibers it innervates
- the less muscle fibers a motor neuron innervates, the more fine
motor control that region has
◉ Difference between ligaments and tendons? Answer: Ligaments:
fibrous connective tissue connecting bone to bone
Tendons: tough fibrous connective tissue connective muscle to bone
◉ What are the two main phases of contraction? Answer: 1)
Isometric Contraction
- no visible shortening of muscle, tension is increasing
,- sarcomere is shortening but elastic components parallel to muscle
fibre are stretching
2) Isotonic Contraction
- visible shortening of muscle, tension remains constant
◉ What is Bowditch's Law? (The "all-or-nothing" law) Answer: MU's
are either activated all the way or not at all
- stimulus threshold
◉ What is the Henneman size principle? Answer: Number of MU's
activated is proportional to stimulus received
- smaller MU's activated first moving to larger MU's at highest
threshold
◉ Characteristics of Slow-Twitch Oxidative Fibers (Type 1) Answer: -
Structure: small diameter, high capillary density, large amount of
mitochondria
Metabolic:
- depend on aerobic cellular respiration (lots of ATP but slower
because of length of oxidative pathway)
- Slowest contraction speed b/c of decreased myosin ATPase activity
- high myoglobin levels
,- store energy as triglycerides
- Function: endurance (very fatigue resistant), postural muscles (low
stimulation threshold), lowest power production
◉ Characteristics of Fast Oxidative fibers (Type 2a) Answer: -
Structure: largest diameter, high capillary density, LOTS of
mitochondria, moderate amount of stored glycogen
Metabolic:
- depends on aerobic conditions (uses glucose +oxygen) but can
switch to anaerobic (PCr)
- fast contractility due to high myosin ATPase activity
- myoglobin density relatively high
Function:
- second fiber type recruited; moderate power production
- walking muscles (moderately fatigue resistant ~<30 mins)
- high intensity (ie. sprinting) but for no longer than 1 min.
◉ Characteristics of Fast Glycolytic fibers (Type 2x) Answer:
Structure: intermediate diameter, low capillary density (very little
mitochondria or myoglobin), high glycogen storage (anaerobic)
, Metabolic:
- anaerobic: creatine phosphate pathway and glycogenolysis
- VERY high myosin ATPase activity; fastest contractility
- last fiber type to be recruited
Function:
- quick burst power activities (highest power production, lowest
fatigue resistance; seconds - <1 min)
- weight lifting, sprints etc.
◉ What parts of the body act as: fulcrum, effort force, lever, and load
in a biomechanical system? Answer: Lever: bone that the muscle
moves
Effort Force: the muscle
Fulcrum: the joint
Load: object being moved
◉ What are the majority of levers in the body? What does this look
like? Answer: Third Class Levers
