Page 1 of 5 Title Demonstrate knowledge of exercise physiology and human anatomy Level 3 Credits 10 Purpose People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain the nervous system and its functions; explain the structure and properties of muscle and its functions; explain the human energy systems and their functions; explain the cardiovascular system and its functions; explain the respiratory system and its functions; and describe the acute physiological responses and chronic physiological adaptations of the body s systems to exercise. Classification Fitness > Exercise Prescription Available grade Achieved Guidance Information 1 The intent of this unit standard is to develop entry level competencies for fitness industry workers. It involves primarily off-job training and assessment. 2 This unit standard builds on basic anatomy knowledge covered in unit standard 21791. Outcomes and performance criteria Outcome 1 Explain the nervous system and its functions. 1.1 Explanation describes the functions of the nervous system. control of internal environment, programming of spinal cord reflexes, assimilation of experiences necessary for memory and learning. 1.2 Explanation describes the organisation of the nervous system. central nervous system (CNS), spinal cord, peripheral nervous system (PNS), sensory, motor, somatic, autonomic, sympathetic, parasympathetic.
Page 2 of 5 1.3 Explanation describes the structure and function of nerves. structure cell body, dendrite, axon, synapses, schwann cells, presynaptic neuron, post-synaptic neuron, neurotransmitters, synaptic cleft; function irritability, conductivity, all-or-none law, excitatory postsynaptic potentials (ESPS), inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSP), temporal summation, spatial summation, repolarisation. 1.4 Explanation describes the components and function of the sensory pathways of the central nervous system. components muscle chemoreceptors, proprioreceptors, joint receptors; function chemoreceptors respond to changes in chemical environment and provide CNS with information on metabolic rate of muscular activity; proprioreceptors recognise body position and rates of limb movement (joint receptors), monitor both static and dynamic relative muscle length producing the stretch reflex, regulate movement and maintain posture (muscle spindles), monitor tension within tendons and act as a safety device by inhibiting muscle contractions (golgi tendon organs). Outcome 2 Explain the structure and properties of muscle and its functions. 2.1 Explanation describes the functions of muscle. force generation for locomotion and breathing, force generation for postural support, heat production. 2.2 Explanation describes the structure of skeletal muscle. tendon, fascia, muscle fibre, myofibril, myosin, actin, sarcoplasmic reticulum, motor unit, neuromuscular junction. 2.3 Explanation describes the steps resulting in muscle action. sliding filament theory, excitation, contraction, relaxation. 2.4 Explanation describes the major biochemical and mechanical properties of human skeletal muscle fibre types are identified and described. fibre types fast twitch (type IIa, IIb), slow twitch (type I); biochemical properties oxidative capacity (number of mitochondria, capillarisation, amount of myoglobin), ATPase isoform type (high vs low), fatigue resistance; mechanical properties speed of shortening, maximal force production, efficiency.
Page 3 of 5 2.5 Explanation describes the causes of variation in fibre type. genetics, blood levels of hormones, exercise training. 2.6 Explanation describes the effects of fibre type on performance. large variation evident within successful populations, just one factor of many, fibres are plastic in behaviour. 2.7 Explanation describes force regulation in a muscle. number and type of motor unit, initial length of muscle, nature of stimulation of motor units (twitch, summation, tetanus). 2.8 Explanation describes the relationship between force, velocity, and power. force velocity relationship maximal velocity at lowest resistive force, at any velocity of movement fast twitch fibres exert more force; force power relationship generally peak power increases as movement velocity increases to around 300 deg/sec, plateau of power as velocity increases thereafter due to reduced muscle force, there is an optimum velocity for any muscle group. Outcome 3 Explain the human energy systems and their functions. 3.1 The three metabolic pathways where muscle cells can produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are identified and differentiated by their use of oxygen. adenosine triphosphate Phospocreatine (ATP-PC) system (phosphagen system), Glycolysis (lactic acid system), Oxidative Phosporylation (aerobic system), aerobic, anaerobic. 3.2 Explanation describes the ATP-PC system. ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), phosphagen (Pi), energy, ATPase, ATP binding, Phosphocreatine (PC). 3.3 Explanation describes the Glycolytic energy system is described. glycogen, glucose, pyruvic acid, lactic acid. 3.4 The three stage process of the aerobic energy system is described. Outcome 4 Explain the cardiovascular system and its functions.
Page 4 of 5 4.1 Explanation describes the anatomy of the cardiovascular system and the pathway of blood flow through the body. atria, ventricles, valves, pulmonary system, systemic system, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins. 4.2 Explanation describes the physiology of the cardiovascular system. homoeostasis of fluid balance, thermoregulation, protection, transport system. 4.3 Explanation describes cardiac output and its determinants. heart rate, stroke volume. 4.4 Explanation describes blood pressure and its determinants. cardiac output, total peripheral resistance blood viscosity. Outcome 5 Explain the respiratory system and its functions. 5.1 Explanation describes the anatomy of the respiratory system. mouth, nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli. 5.2 Explanation describes the physiology of the respiratory system. mouth, nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli. 5.3 Explanation describes the mechanics of ventilation. ribs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, inspiration, expiration, pressure differences. 5.4 Explanation describes the transport of gases throughout the body. mouth and/or nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, diffusion into blood, transport in blood, diffusion into tissues.
Page 5 of 5 Outcome 6 Describe the acute physiological responses and chronic physiological adaptations of the body s systems to exercise. 6.1 Effects of commencing, sustaining and ceasing types of training are described in terms of acute physiological responses. types of training muscular strength, power, hypertrophy and endurance, flexibility, agility, speed, anaerobic fitness and aerobic endurance; physiological responses cardiorespiratory, cardiovascular responses, body temperature responses, energy production (major energy systems used), energy supply (source of energy), recovery responses (return of systems to homeostasis). 6.2 Effects of repeated performance of certain types of training are described in terms of chronic physiological adaptations over time. types of training muscular strength, power, hypertrophy and endurance, flexibility, agility, speed, anaerobic fitness and aerobic endurance; physiological adaptations cardiovascular (capacity, structure, blood pressure), pulmonary (gas exchange), muscular, skeletal, metabolic (metabolic rate, thermoregulation), neural, body composition. Replacement information This unit standard and unit standard 22265 replaced unit standard 7024. This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below. Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions Process Version Date Last Date for Assessment Registration 1 20 April 2006 31 December 2020 Review 2 23 November 2017 31 December 2020 Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference 0099 This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.