NASM-CPT Study Guide
This study guide is divided up into 6 primary domains with essential knowledge topics for the certification
exam. Use this with the online course and textbook to help prepare for your exam.
Domain 1: Basic and Applied Sciences and
Nutritional Concepts
Concepts and Structures of Anatomy
& Functions of Exercise Physiology
The Nervous System
Sensory
Nervous system—communication network within
Changes in the
the body.
environment
Central nervous system (CNS)—brain and spinal
cord; coordinates activity of the body.
Nervous system Integrative
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)—nerves
functions Analyze and interpret
connecting the CNS to the rest of the body and
environment.
Motor
Peripheral nervous system subdivisions:
The neuromuscular
Somatic—serves outer areas of the body and response
skeletal muscle; voluntary.
Autonomic—involuntary systems (e.g., heart, digestion).
Autonomic subdivisions:
Parasympathetic—decreases activation during rest and recovery.
Sympathetic—increases activation to prep for activity.
Neuron—functional unit of the nervous system.
Motor (efferent) neurons—transmit nerve impulses from CNS to effector sites.
Sensory (afferent) neurons—respond to stimuli; transmit nerve impulses from effector sites to CNS.
Mechanoreceptors—sense distortion in body tissues.
,NASM-CPT Study Guide
Joint receptors—respond to pressure,
acceleration, and deceleration of joints.
Golgi tendon organs (GTO)—sense changes in
muscular tension.
Muscle spindles—sense changes in muscle
length.
The Muscular System
Tendons—connect muscle to bone; provide anchor for Cross-Section of a Muscle
muscles to produce force. Muscle fiber
Fascia—outer layer of connective tissue surrounding a
muscle. Endomysium
Fascicles—bundle of individual muscle fibers.
Perimysium
Epimysium
Muscle fiber—cellular components and myofibrils encased
in a plasma membrane.
Sarcomere—produces muscular contraction; repeating
sections of actin and myosin.
Sliding filament theory—thick and thin filaments slide past
one another, shortening the entire sarcomere.
Type I (slow twitch) muscle tissue—smaller size; fatigue
slowly.
Type II (fast twitch) muscle tissue—larger size; quick to
produce maximal tension; fatigue quickly.
Motor unit—one motor neuron and the muscle fibers it connects with.
Neural activation—contraction of a muscle generated by neural stimulation.
Neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that transport impulses from nerve to muscle.
2
,NASM-CPT Study Guide
Local stabilization system—attach directly to vertebrae.
Consists of: transverse abdominis, internal oblique, multifidus, pelvic floor, diaphragm.
Global stabilization system—attach from pelvis to spine.
Consists of: quadratus lumborum, psoas major, external oblique, rectus abdominis, gluteus medius,
adductor complex, portions of internal oblique.
Movement system—attach spine and/or pelvis to extremities.
Consists of: latissimus dorsi, hip flexors, hamstring complex, quadriceps.
Refer to Appendix D of the textbook for detailed descriptions of all major muscles.
The Skeletal System
Axial skeleton—skull, rib cage, and vertebral column.
Appendicular skeleton—upper and lower extremities,
shoulder and pelvic girdles.
Skeletal system functions—supports, protects, allows bodily
movement, produces blood, stores minerals.
Depressions—flattened or indented portions of a bone; can
be muscle attachment sites.
Process—projection protruding from a bone; muscles,
tendons, and ligaments can attach.
Ligaments—connects bone to bone; little blood supply; slow
to heal.
Arthrokinematics—joint motion.
Non-synovial joints—no joint cavity, connective tissue, or
cartilage; little to no movement.
Synovial Joints—held together by joint capsule and
ligaments; associated with movement.
Major motion types—roll, slide, and spin.
Important joint types to know:
Hinge—elbows, ankles; sagittal plane movement.
Ball-and-socket—shoulders, hips; most mobile, all
three planes of motion.
Weight-bearing exercise—the best method to strengthen
bones.
3
, NASM-CPT Study Guide
The Endocrine System
Endocrine system—system of glands; secretes hormones to regulate bodily function.
Testosterone—responsible for male sex traits.
Estrogen—influences fat deposition on hips, buttocks, and thighs; responsible for female sex traits.
Growth hormone—anabolic hormone; responsible for bodily growth up until puberty.
Insulin—regulates energy and glucose metabolism in the body.
The Cardiorespiratory System
Cardiorespiratory system—cardiovascular and
respiratory systems.
Cardiovascular system—heart, blood, and blood
vessels.
Cardiac muscle—shorter, more tightly connected than
skeletal muscle; involuntary.
Atria—smaller, superior chambers of the heart; receive
blood from veins.
Right atrium—gathers deoxygenated blood
returning to the heart.
Left atrium—gathers oxygenated blood from the
lungs.
Sinoatrial (SA) node—located in right atrium; initiates
impulse for heart rate; “pacemaker for the heart”.
TRANSPORTATION
Oxygen, nutrients,
hormones
Ventricles—larger, inferior chambers of the heart; pump
blood out. FUNCTIONS
Right ventricle—pumps deoxygenated blood to OF BLOOD
lungs.
Left ventricle—pumps oxygenated blood to the Temperature, pH Clotting, immunity
body. REGULATION PROTECTION
Arteries—carry blood away from the heart.
Veins—transport blood back to the heart.
Arterioles—small branches of arteries; end in capillaries.
Capillaries—smallest blood vessels; site of gas, chemical, and water exchange.
4
This study guide is divided up into 6 primary domains with essential knowledge topics for the certification
exam. Use this with the online course and textbook to help prepare for your exam.
Domain 1: Basic and Applied Sciences and
Nutritional Concepts
Concepts and Structures of Anatomy
& Functions of Exercise Physiology
The Nervous System
Sensory
Nervous system—communication network within
Changes in the
the body.
environment
Central nervous system (CNS)—brain and spinal
cord; coordinates activity of the body.
Nervous system Integrative
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)—nerves
functions Analyze and interpret
connecting the CNS to the rest of the body and
environment.
Motor
Peripheral nervous system subdivisions:
The neuromuscular
Somatic—serves outer areas of the body and response
skeletal muscle; voluntary.
Autonomic—involuntary systems (e.g., heart, digestion).
Autonomic subdivisions:
Parasympathetic—decreases activation during rest and recovery.
Sympathetic—increases activation to prep for activity.
Neuron—functional unit of the nervous system.
Motor (efferent) neurons—transmit nerve impulses from CNS to effector sites.
Sensory (afferent) neurons—respond to stimuli; transmit nerve impulses from effector sites to CNS.
Mechanoreceptors—sense distortion in body tissues.
,NASM-CPT Study Guide
Joint receptors—respond to pressure,
acceleration, and deceleration of joints.
Golgi tendon organs (GTO)—sense changes in
muscular tension.
Muscle spindles—sense changes in muscle
length.
The Muscular System
Tendons—connect muscle to bone; provide anchor for Cross-Section of a Muscle
muscles to produce force. Muscle fiber
Fascia—outer layer of connective tissue surrounding a
muscle. Endomysium
Fascicles—bundle of individual muscle fibers.
Perimysium
Epimysium
Muscle fiber—cellular components and myofibrils encased
in a plasma membrane.
Sarcomere—produces muscular contraction; repeating
sections of actin and myosin.
Sliding filament theory—thick and thin filaments slide past
one another, shortening the entire sarcomere.
Type I (slow twitch) muscle tissue—smaller size; fatigue
slowly.
Type II (fast twitch) muscle tissue—larger size; quick to
produce maximal tension; fatigue quickly.
Motor unit—one motor neuron and the muscle fibers it connects with.
Neural activation—contraction of a muscle generated by neural stimulation.
Neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that transport impulses from nerve to muscle.
2
,NASM-CPT Study Guide
Local stabilization system—attach directly to vertebrae.
Consists of: transverse abdominis, internal oblique, multifidus, pelvic floor, diaphragm.
Global stabilization system—attach from pelvis to spine.
Consists of: quadratus lumborum, psoas major, external oblique, rectus abdominis, gluteus medius,
adductor complex, portions of internal oblique.
Movement system—attach spine and/or pelvis to extremities.
Consists of: latissimus dorsi, hip flexors, hamstring complex, quadriceps.
Refer to Appendix D of the textbook for detailed descriptions of all major muscles.
The Skeletal System
Axial skeleton—skull, rib cage, and vertebral column.
Appendicular skeleton—upper and lower extremities,
shoulder and pelvic girdles.
Skeletal system functions—supports, protects, allows bodily
movement, produces blood, stores minerals.
Depressions—flattened or indented portions of a bone; can
be muscle attachment sites.
Process—projection protruding from a bone; muscles,
tendons, and ligaments can attach.
Ligaments—connects bone to bone; little blood supply; slow
to heal.
Arthrokinematics—joint motion.
Non-synovial joints—no joint cavity, connective tissue, or
cartilage; little to no movement.
Synovial Joints—held together by joint capsule and
ligaments; associated with movement.
Major motion types—roll, slide, and spin.
Important joint types to know:
Hinge—elbows, ankles; sagittal plane movement.
Ball-and-socket—shoulders, hips; most mobile, all
three planes of motion.
Weight-bearing exercise—the best method to strengthen
bones.
3
, NASM-CPT Study Guide
The Endocrine System
Endocrine system—system of glands; secretes hormones to regulate bodily function.
Testosterone—responsible for male sex traits.
Estrogen—influences fat deposition on hips, buttocks, and thighs; responsible for female sex traits.
Growth hormone—anabolic hormone; responsible for bodily growth up until puberty.
Insulin—regulates energy and glucose metabolism in the body.
The Cardiorespiratory System
Cardiorespiratory system—cardiovascular and
respiratory systems.
Cardiovascular system—heart, blood, and blood
vessels.
Cardiac muscle—shorter, more tightly connected than
skeletal muscle; involuntary.
Atria—smaller, superior chambers of the heart; receive
blood from veins.
Right atrium—gathers deoxygenated blood
returning to the heart.
Left atrium—gathers oxygenated blood from the
lungs.
Sinoatrial (SA) node—located in right atrium; initiates
impulse for heart rate; “pacemaker for the heart”.
TRANSPORTATION
Oxygen, nutrients,
hormones
Ventricles—larger, inferior chambers of the heart; pump
blood out. FUNCTIONS
Right ventricle—pumps deoxygenated blood to OF BLOOD
lungs.
Left ventricle—pumps oxygenated blood to the Temperature, pH Clotting, immunity
body. REGULATION PROTECTION
Arteries—carry blood away from the heart.
Veins—transport blood back to the heart.
Arterioles—small branches of arteries; end in capillaries.
Capillaries—smallest blood vessels; site of gas, chemical, and water exchange.
4
