The BioMatrix.NET Index

A continually growing glossary of terms for bodybuilders and other athletes. At the moment it's far from comprehensive but give it time. This thing will be a beast! Send suggestions to the editor.

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] [g] [h] [i] [j] [k] [l] [m] [n] [o] [p] [q] [r] [s] [t] [u] [v] [w] [x] [y] [z]

A

Abdominals - Also abs. The sheet of muscle across the stomach that appears as segments. Used for sit ups and similar movements. See Get Abs Like Brad Pitt.

Actin - One of the two main proteins that make up the muscle fibres (the other being Actin) and react against each other to contract the sarcomeres. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Aerobic Exercise - Is any exercise that requires your muscles to draw energy from the blood. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Aminoglutethimide - An anabolic steroid that inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens via the aromatase enzymatic pathway (?). And apparently is 'anti-catabolic'.

Anaerobic Exercise - Opposite of the above. Does not use oxygen.

Anabolic Steroids - Drugs that act as synthetic testosterone. Sometimes used by bodybuilders to illegally increase muscle size.

Anabolism - The metabolic function of repairing and building muscle and other tissue. The opposite of 'Catabolic' which burns fat and muscle to generate energy. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

ATP - Adenosine Triphosphate: an adenine nucleotide that's bound to three phosphates. The main source of energy for muscles. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

B

Bench Press - One of the most important moves for bodybuilders and powerlifters. You lie on a bench and press a barbell up from a rack. See Improve Your Bench.

Biceps - The inside arm muscle used for curling. See Joing the Arms Race.

Bi-lateral movements - Symmetrical movements using both arms. For example chest press.

C

Carbohydrates - The main source of energy for the body. Comes in two types - simple and complex, with the latter being preferable. Book sources include bananas, bread and pasta. See Superfoods for Bodybuilding.

Calves - The back bulge on the bottom of the leg above the ancle.

Catabolism - The breaking down of proteins and carbohydrates to provide energy. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Clenbuterol - Another drug used by some bodybuilders to decrease bodyfat. A 'selective beta-2-agonist'. Now you know.

Collumbu, Marco - Two time Mr Olympia and Arnie's best mate. One time believed to be the strongest man alive. Recogniseable by his short stature.

Chest Press - A compound movement that involves lying on a bench (hence the 'bench') and pressing upwards with a barbell (hence the 'press'). Works primarily the pecs but also the lats, deltoids and triceps. See Improve Your Bench.

Concentric movements - Come in towards the body, e.g. curls.

Coleman, Ronnie - A superstar of bodybuilding and 9 time Mr Olympia.

Creatine - A supplement taken to provide improve the ability of the muscles to use ATP leading to more energy. Also credited with helping water retention. Read A Review.

Cuttler, Jay - The current Mr Olympia. A really big mofo.

D

Deltoids - The shoulder muscles

Diphosphate - An adenine nucleotide that's bound to only two phosphates.

Dromostanolone - An anabolic/androgenic steroid injected for muscle gain.

E

Eccentric movements - Movements where the limb moves away from the body. E.g. tricep push downs.

Elo - Both the name of my favourite band and of my amazing poodle. The best dog a man could ask for.

Ephedrine - A stimulant used to decrease body fat. Also an anti-depresant. Leads to happy drug induced bodybuilding.

F

Forced reps - Reps where you have to cheat or have a spotter help in order to get through. The idea being that it's better than nothing. See Intensity Techniques.

Forearm flexors - Forearm muscles.

Formyldienolone - Injectable anabolic steroid used for 'site location' due to its ability to increase muscle in a specific area. Users become 'formy-dable', eh? eh?

Free weights - The opposite of resistance machines. It's just you are the iron and brings more supporting muscles into a play due to the less rigid structure. Real men use free weights.

G

GABA - A supplement that encourages the body's natural production of HGH. Banned in the UK. Read Review.

Glycogen Lactic Acid System - The process by which the body gets energy from glycogen to fuel the muscles. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

H

Hamstrings - The 'biceps' of the leg. See Hail to the King.

Hemoglobin - The carrier of oxygen in the blood. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

HGH - Human Growth Hormone, responsible for recovery in the human body. Produced while asleep. Can be taken as pills/injections to enhance muscle growth illegally. Certain supplements also increase the body's natural production (such as GABA) though these are also banned in the UK.

Hypertrophy - The technical term for your muscles getting bigger. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

I

Isometric training - Static training that puts a strain on the muscle although it goes not go through a range of movement.

J

K

Kettle-bells - Big heavy balls with strange handles. An alternative to dumbells that are in some ways more versatile and conducive to moves that require the use of more supporting muscles.

L

Lats - The muscles under the armpit used for pull ups and lat pull downs. Also called 'wings'.

M

Mesterolone - Steroids that you eat for anti-oestrogen reasons.

Microtears - Tiny 'tears' in the muscle fibres widely believed to lead to hypertrophy.

Muscles - Come on, you know what muscles are. Don't be a retard.

Muscle Fibre - AKA Muscle cells. What your muscles be made of. Come in two types 'fast twitch' and 'slow twitch' or Type I and II (as well as inbetweenies). Unlike other cells they have multiple nuclei. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Myofibrils - The small fillaments which make up the muscle fibre.

Myosin - One of the proteins that build the muscle tissue. Reacts with Actin by 'pedaling' to contract the muscle.

N

Negatives - A technique for increasing intensity whereby you slowly lower the weight once it becomes to hard to lift using a spotter or cheat to raise it again. See Intensity Techniques.

O

Obliques - The muscles just bellow the ribs surrounding the abs. Crucial to a decent mid-section.

Overtraining - A common problem for bodybuilders when they train more than they can handle without sufficient rest. Results in tiredness, a sickly feeling and inability to gym it up further. A hinderance to gains.

P

Pecs - The chest muscles. They have your nipples on them. Yup, those are the ones. See Improve Your Bench.

Press ups - The official coolest move their is. You lie on the floor and push yourself up using just your arms with the only other part that touches the floor being the balls of your feet.
Pump - The feeling of blood rushing to the muscles during and after a workout that Arnie famously decribed as being 'as good as cumming'. It's not.

Phosphagen System - The system by which the muscles get energy from ATP and use Creatine phosphate to recycle ATP from ADP. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Plyometric training - Explosive movements such as jumping or clapping press ups. Useful for developing speed/jumping height and popular among sprinters. Read Vertical Limit.

Protein - The dietary source of amino acids found in meats and some plant sources. The building blocks of muscle. See Superfoods for Bodybuilding.

Q

Quads - Quadriceps, on the front of the upper leg. Used in leg extensions and kicking. See Hail to the King.

R

Resistance Machines - Resistance machines target one or two major muscle groups and use a supported structure. An example is the chest press.

S

Sarcomeres - Tiny 'tubes' that make up the myofibrils that in turn make up the muscle fibres. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Satelite cells - Stem cells that can be recruited for all manner of purposes. Used to repair the mircotears in muscle fibre.

Site location - The underground practice of injecting oil and other substances directly into a muscle for immediate 'growth'. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

Sit ups - Here you lie on the floor then literally 'sit up' without the use of your arms or legs to train your abs.

Schwarzenegger, Arnold - The guy who brought bodybuilding into the public eye, an international action movie star and currently the Govenor of California. You may have heard of him... See The Gallery.

Static contraction - Pulling against an imoveable force to generate strength.

Squats - A compound movement that involves holding a barbell across your shoulders and sitting in an 'imaginary chair'. Many consider it the most useful move you can do. Shut up and squat! See Hail to the King.

T

Testosterone - A hormone that's crucial for muscle building. Among other things.

Traps - Muscles of the upper back.

Triceps - The muscle on the back of the arm, underneath the biceps. Has a horse-shoe shape. See Joing the Arms Race.

U

Unilateral Movements - Movements done with just one arm or leg such as bent over-rows or isolation curls.

V

Villi - Tiny 'fingers' that line the stomach walls and absorb the vital nutrients. I say 'fingers' because I imagine that's what they look like. They probably don't. See The Science of Bodybuilding.

W

Weight Training - The art of picking up heavy metal and then putting it back down over and over again. Loads of fun.

Weider, Joe - Of Weider publications. Well known entrepreneur and promoter of bodybuilding who made his money from muscle magazines and supplements.

Whey Protein - A popular source of protein used as the basis of many supplements which is a bi-product of pasturised milk. Read A Review.

X

Y

Z

Zane, Frank - Former Mr Olympia during the golden age of bodybuilding, known for being highly detailed and symetrical.