Tendons are fibrous connective tissues that connect muscle to bone. They transmit the force generated by muscle contraction to facilitate movement. Tendons are composed predominantly of strong collagen fibers and are located throughout the body. Their main functions are to transmit force from muscles to bones, which allows movement, and to provide stability and shock absorption at joints. Tendons have properties like strength, elasticity, and innervation that allow them to effectively perform these functions. They are constantly adapting to demands on the body from physical activity.
2. Introduction
• 1.What is tendons? - Tendons
are the fibrous connective
tissues that transmit the
mechanical force of muscle
contraction to the bones.
Tendons are remarkably
strong, having one of the
highest tensile strengths
found among soft tissues.
3. • 2. Where are tendons? - Tendons, located at
each end of a muscle tendons are found
throughout the body, from the head and
neck all the way down to the feet. The
Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the
body.
• 3. What is in a tendons? - Tendons are also
mostly collagen, one of the most abundant
proteins in your body. Tendons also contain
blood vessels and nerves.
4. 4. Why are tendons important? - Tendons let us
move our limbs. They also help prevent muscle
injury by absorbing some of the impact your
muscles take when you run, jump or do other
movements. We also say Our bones, muscles
and joints work together in a coordinated way
to move our body and give it stability.
5. What are the functions of
tendons?
A tendon is a fibrous connective
tissue that attaches muscle to
bone. Tendons may also attach
muscles to structures such as
the eyeball. A tendon serves to
move the bone or structure.
Function
6. • Connect muscle to bone, but are not rigid
• Are quite stretchy
• Passive but important
• Not just rigid, passive structural links muscle
and bone, but also affect movement through
the overall function of the muscle-tendon-unit.
Function:
→transmit muscle force and slide during
movement
→Store elastic energy Tendon properties affect
force transmitted from muscle to bone
7. • Their main function is to transmit the force generated
by the muscle to the bone, which allows movement
to occur. Tendons are made up of tough, fibrous
collagen fibers that are able to withstand a great
deal of stress and tension.
• In addition to transmitting force, tendons also help to
stabilize joints and maintain proper alignment of the
body. They act as a kind of "suspension system" for
the muscles, gbsorbing shock and preventing
damage to the muscle fibers.
8. • Tendons are also important for proprioception,
which is the body's ability to sense its own position
in space. The nerve endings in tendons send
signals to the brain that help us to coordinate
movement and maintain balance.
• Overall, tendons play a crucial role in the
functioning of the musculoskeletal system and are
essential for movement, stability, and
proprioception.
9. Properties
• properties of tendons:
Strength: Tendons are strong and tough, as they
need to withstand the forces generated by muscles
and the weight of the body .
• Elasticity: Although tendons are not as elastic as
muscles, they do have some degree of elasticity,
which allows them to stretch and absorb shock .
• Collagen-rich: Tendons are predominantly made
up of collagen, which is a fibrous protein that
provides strength and structure to the tissue.
10. • Innervated: Although tendons are not highly
innervated, they do have sensory nerves that
provide feedback to the brain about the
position and movement of the body.
• Non-contractile: Unlike muscles, tendons are
not contractile and cannot actively generate
force. Instead, they transmit the force
generated by the muscle to the bone.
• Dynamic: Tendons are constantly adapting to
the demands placed on them by physical
activity. With regular exercise, tendons can
become stronger and more resilient.
11. Structure
A tendon consists of:
Endotenon: Connective tissue
that surrounds the primary,
secondary and tertiary fiber
bundles. Helps the bundles glide
against each other inside the
tendon.
Epitenon: Thin layer of
connective tissue that surrounds
the entire tendon.
12. • Paratenon: Loose layer of connective tissue that
lets the tendon move against the epitenon and
other tissues that the tendon touches. Located
outside the epitenon.
• Sharpey fibers: Collagen fibers that attach the
tendon to the bone.
• Sheath (synovium): Some tendons in the hand and
foot have a sheath (synovium). This is the
protective outer covering of the tendon. Produces
a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid, which helps
the tendon slide smoothly where it meets muscle
and bone.
13. • The three types of tendons
in the human body are :
• 1.The Flexor Tendons
• 2.The Extensor Tendons
• 3.TheLigamentous Tendons
Types
14. • 1.The Flexor Tendons – These
tendons allow humans to
bend their joints and curl their
fingers. Flexor tendons are
located where the hand
meets the wrist. There are five
flexor tendons in total, all of
which start at the palm and
end at the fingers. Each
finger has two flexor tendons,
one on the thumb side and
15. • 2.The Extensor Tendons –
These tendons allow
humans to straighten their
joints and extend their toes.
The extensor tendons are
made up of a main tendon,
the extensor digitorum
longus and several smaller
tendons, including the
extensor digiti minimi.
16. • 3.The Ligamentous
Tendons – these tendons
connect bones to other
bones and muscles. They
also provide stability and
support. Moreover,
ligamentous tendons are
the most numerous, yet
least-known, of the
connective tissues.
