National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Practice Exam

What skeletal structure refers to the use of compression and tension to provide stability and efficiency in mass and movement?

1. Skeletal system

2. Muscular system

3. Neuromuscular system

4. Structural framework

The correct answer is: Structural framework

The structural framework refers specifically to the organization and arrangement of bones, joints, and connective tissues that provide stability and support to the body. It plays a critical role in enabling movement and bearing loads through the application of forces. The concept of using compression and tension to maintain structural integrity is key to understanding how bones and other connective tissues interact during movement and how they can withstand various stresses. In this context, the skeletal structure functions as the foundation for muscular actions, allowing for efficient movement and load distribution. This is essential in physical activities where the body must adapt to different forces, such as during athletic performance or daily activities. While the skeletal system provides the framework itself, the term "structural framework" more accurately emphasizes the role of the skeletal structure in facilitating stability and efficiency in mass and movement through the principles of mechanical loading. The other systems mentioned—muscular and neuromuscular—are involved in movement and stabilization but do not specifically encapsulate the idea of compressive and tensile forces applied to the physical framework in the same comprehensive way that "structural framework" does.