Tendon Injuries

Question 1

Tendon structure and function:

Answer 1

(tendons are part of the overall muscle tendon complex)

muscle origin (from bone)

muscle belly

musculotendinous junction

tendon; if the tendon is going around an angle it can be around a SESAMOID BONE e.g. patella or around a TENDON SHEATH

tendinous insertion (into bone; sharpey’s fibres)

Question 2

describe the anatomy (structure) of a tendon:

Answer 2

longitudinal arrangement of cells (mostly tenocytes) and fibres (collagen type 1- triple helix)

fascicles of long narrow spiralling collagen bundles

COLLAGEN BUNDLES covered by ENDOTENON

FASCICLES covered by PARATENON

TENDON covered by EPITENON

(endotenon is a covering layer from which the blood vessels come from)

Question 3

describe the blood supply of a tendon:

Answer 3

tendon doesn’t have a blood supply running up its centre like bone

the blood supply comes from the outer side

allows tendon to move backwards and forwards without affecting the blood supply

fine network of blood vessels in paratenon

Question 4

describe TENDON SHEATH:

Answer 4

tendon sheath e.g. flexor tendons in distal palm and fingers;

• tendons connected to sheath by vincula
• synovial lining + fluid (gliding lubrication and nutrition)