ISSA CERTIFIED FITNESS TRAINER CORE
EXERCISE SCIENCE AND PROGRAM DESIGN
REVIEW 2026
◉ size principle of fiber recruitment.
Answer: Principle stating that motor units are recruited in order
according to their recruitment thresholds and firing rates.
◉ fusiform muscle.
Answer: spindle shaped muscle like the biceps
◉ convergent muscle.
Answer: broad at origin and tapering to a narrower insertion like
the pectoralis major(chest)
◉ circular muscle.
Answer: muscle that forms a ring around a body opening;sphincters
◉ parallel muscle.
Answer: Muscle with fibers that are oriented parallel to that
muscle's longitudinal axis.
,◉ pennate muscles.
Answer: have shorter fibers
arranged obliquely to their tendons in a manner similar to a feather
arrangement increases the cross sectional area of the muscle,
thereby increasing the power
◉ penniform.
Answer: Muscle fibers that run diagonally in respect to the tendon
similar to a feather.
◉ unipennate muscle.
Answer: all the muscle fibers are on the same side of the tendon
◉ bipennate muscle.
Answer: muscle fibers on both sides of the tendon; rectus femoris
◉ multipennate muscle.
Answer: muscle fibers extending from both sides of multiple central
tendons; deltoid
◉ muscle actions.
Answer: concentric, eccentric, isometric
,◉ concentric muscle action.
Answer: A muscle action that occurs when a muscle is exerting force
greater than the resistive force, resulting in a shortening of the
muscle, contraction
◉ eccentric muscle action.
Answer: An eccentric muscle action occurs when a muscle develops
tension while lengthening
◉ isometric muscle action.
Answer: muscle length does not change because the contractile force
is equal to the resistive force
◉ stretch-shortening cycle (SSC).
Answer: The cycling between the eccentric (stretch) action of a
muscle and the concentric (shortening) action of the same muscle.
◉ joint.
Answer: A place in the body where two bones come together
◉ axial skeleton.
, Answer: Portion of the skeletal system that consists of the skull, rib
cage, and vertebral column
◉ appendicular skeleton.
Answer: bones of the shoulder, pelvis, and upper and lower
extremities
◉ flat bones.
Answer: These bones are thin, flat, and curved. They form the ribs,
breastbone, and skull. Protect internal organs and provide a large
surface area for muscles to attach
◉ short bones.
Answer: cube shaped bones of the wrist and ankle, provide stability
and a limited amount of movement
◉ long bones.
Answer: support body wt. and facilitate movement, femur, tibia,
fibula, humerus
◉ sesamoid bones.
Answer: round bones found near joints (e.g., the patella), reinforce
and protect tendons
EXERCISE SCIENCE AND PROGRAM DESIGN
REVIEW 2026
◉ size principle of fiber recruitment.
Answer: Principle stating that motor units are recruited in order
according to their recruitment thresholds and firing rates.
◉ fusiform muscle.
Answer: spindle shaped muscle like the biceps
◉ convergent muscle.
Answer: broad at origin and tapering to a narrower insertion like
the pectoralis major(chest)
◉ circular muscle.
Answer: muscle that forms a ring around a body opening;sphincters
◉ parallel muscle.
Answer: Muscle with fibers that are oriented parallel to that
muscle's longitudinal axis.
,◉ pennate muscles.
Answer: have shorter fibers
arranged obliquely to their tendons in a manner similar to a feather
arrangement increases the cross sectional area of the muscle,
thereby increasing the power
◉ penniform.
Answer: Muscle fibers that run diagonally in respect to the tendon
similar to a feather.
◉ unipennate muscle.
Answer: all the muscle fibers are on the same side of the tendon
◉ bipennate muscle.
Answer: muscle fibers on both sides of the tendon; rectus femoris
◉ multipennate muscle.
Answer: muscle fibers extending from both sides of multiple central
tendons; deltoid
◉ muscle actions.
Answer: concentric, eccentric, isometric
,◉ concentric muscle action.
Answer: A muscle action that occurs when a muscle is exerting force
greater than the resistive force, resulting in a shortening of the
muscle, contraction
◉ eccentric muscle action.
Answer: An eccentric muscle action occurs when a muscle develops
tension while lengthening
◉ isometric muscle action.
Answer: muscle length does not change because the contractile force
is equal to the resistive force
◉ stretch-shortening cycle (SSC).
Answer: The cycling between the eccentric (stretch) action of a
muscle and the concentric (shortening) action of the same muscle.
◉ joint.
Answer: A place in the body where two bones come together
◉ axial skeleton.
, Answer: Portion of the skeletal system that consists of the skull, rib
cage, and vertebral column
◉ appendicular skeleton.
Answer: bones of the shoulder, pelvis, and upper and lower
extremities
◉ flat bones.
Answer: These bones are thin, flat, and curved. They form the ribs,
breastbone, and skull. Protect internal organs and provide a large
surface area for muscles to attach
◉ short bones.
Answer: cube shaped bones of the wrist and ankle, provide stability
and a limited amount of movement
◉ long bones.
Answer: support body wt. and facilitate movement, femur, tibia,
fibula, humerus
◉ sesamoid bones.
Answer: round bones found near joints (e.g., the patella), reinforce
and protect tendons
