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NASM Certified Personal Trainer · Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts

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NASM Certified Personal Trainer Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems Summary

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About 5 of 15 Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts questions (35%)

How the heart, lungs, muscles, and energy systems respond to exercise.

Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems: must-know points

  • ATP-PC fuels very short, maximal efforts.
  • Type I muscle fibers resist fatigue; Type II fibers produce more force.
  • Cardiac output = heart rate x stroke volume.
  • Aerobic training lowers resting heart rate.

Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems: 6 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 1. Which energy system fuels very short, high-effort actions of about 10 seconds or less?

  1. ① Aerobic system
  2. ② Glycolytic system
  3. ③ Fat oxidation only
  4. ④ ATP-PC system
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Answer: ④ ATP-PC system

Key point: ATP-PC = very short, maximal efforts

The ATP-PC system supplies energy fast for efforts like a heavy lift or a short sprint.

Wrong choices

  • Aerobic system: This works for long, low-intensity activity.
  • Glycolytic system: This fuels efforts lasting longer than a few seconds.
  • Fat oxidation only: Fat supplies energy slowly.
Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 2. Which muscle fiber type is the most fatigue resistant and used mainly for endurance?

  1. ① Type IIx
  2. ② Type IIa
  3. ③ Smooth muscle
  4. ④ Type I
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Answer: ④ Type I

Key point: Type I = slow twitch, endurance

Type I fibers are slow twitch. They resist fatigue and are used for long, low-intensity work.

Wrong choices

  • Type IIx: These fibers make high force and tire quickly.
  • Type IIa: These are in between, but less resistant than type I.
  • Smooth muscle: This is not a skeletal muscle fiber type.
Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 3. How is cardiac output calculated?

  1. ① Heart rate + stroke volume
  2. ② Stroke volume / heart rate
  3. ③ Blood pressure x heart rate
  4. ④ Heart rate x stroke volume
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Answer: ④ Heart rate x stroke volume

Key point: Cardiac output = HR x stroke volume

Cardiac output is the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute. It equals heart rate times stroke volume.

Wrong choices

  • Heart rate + stroke volume: The two values are multiplied, not added.
  • Stroke volume / heart rate: This is not the formula.
  • Blood pressure x heart rate: This is not the formula.
Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 4. What does ATP stand for?

  1. ① Anaerobic training protein
  2. ② Adenosine triphosphate
  3. ③ Active tissue power
  4. ④ Adenosine tissue phosphate
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Answer: ② Adenosine triphosphate

Key point: ATP = adenosine triphosphate

ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, the energy molecule cells use.

Wrong choices

  • Anaerobic training protein: This is not the meaning of ATP.
  • Active tissue power: This is not the meaning of ATP.
  • Adenosine tissue phosphate: This is close but wrong; the correct word is triphosphate.
Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 5. Which muscle is the primary muscle of inspiration (breathing in)?

  1. ① Rectus abdominis
  2. ② Transversus abdominis
  3. ③ Diaphragm
  4. ④ Latissimus dorsi
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Answer: ③ Diaphragm

Key point: Diaphragm = main breathing muscle

The diaphragm contracts and moves down to pull air into the lungs.

Wrong choices

  • Rectus abdominis: This is a trunk flexor, not the main breathing muscle.
  • Transversus abdominis: This helps with forced exhalation.
  • Latissimus dorsi: This is a large back muscle.
Practice questionReviewedBasic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts › Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems★★★★☆

Question 6. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of regular aerobic training?

  1. ① An increase in resting heart rate
  2. ② A greater stroke volume
  3. ③ A lower resting heart rate
  4. ④ Better cardiorespiratory fitness
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Answer: ① An increase in resting heart rate

Key point: Training lowers resting heart rate

With aerobic training the heart pumps more blood per beat, so resting heart rate goes down, not up.

Wrong choices

  • A greater stroke volume: This is a benefit of training.
  • A lower resting heart rate: This is a benefit of training.
  • Better cardiorespiratory fitness: This is a benefit of training.

Test yourself.

Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems: 5 questions →Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts: 5 questions →