ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

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Prepare for the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Exam with interactive quizzes and comprehensive study aids. This quiz experience enhances your understanding of fitness concepts, exam structure, and key information you need to succeed.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What action does the latissimus dorsi perform at the glenohumeral joint?

Abduction
Extension
Horizontal abduction
Adduction

The correct answer is: Adduction

The latissimus dorsi is a large muscle of the back that plays a significant role in upper body movement, particularly at the glenohumeral joint, which is the shoulder joint. This muscle is primarily responsible for several actions, one of which is adduction of the arm. During adduction, the arm is lowered towards the body from a raised position or moved closer to the body's midline. The latissimus dorsi assists in this movement, particularly when the arms are raised above the head and then brought back down towards the side of the body. In addition to its role in adduction, the latissimus dorsi also contributes to other movements, such as extension (moving the arm backwards) and internal rotation, but adduction is a key action that stands out in its function. Understanding this is crucial for personal trainers when designing exercise programs that involve pulling motions, such as lat pull-downs or rows, where the engagement of the latissimus dorsi contributes to the desired muscle action.