tendon
Meaning of tendon: Tendons are tough fibrous cords that transmit a muscle's pulling force to bone, distinct from ligaments that connect bone to bone.
Definition of tendon
A tendon is a tough, fibrous, cord-like band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone or, in some cases, to another structure the muscle needs to move, such as the eyeball. Tendons are made largely of collagen fibers arranged in dense, parallel bundles, giving them considerable strength while allowing only limited stretch.
When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon connecting it to bone, and this pulling force is transmitted through the tendon to move the bone, producing movement at the joint the tendon crosses. Tendons must withstand repeated tension over a lifetime of movement, and they generally have a more limited blood supply than the muscles they serve.
Because tendons transmit substantial force with a relatively limited blood supply, they are prone to injuries such as tendinitis, inflammation from overuse, and tears, which can heal more slowly than injuries to more richly supplied tissue.
Used in a sentence
An MRI was ordered to evaluate a suspected tendon tear in the patient's shoulder.
Good to know
A tendon connects muscle to bone, while a ligament connects bone to bone, a distinction frequently confused despite the two tissues serving very different mechanical roles.
Word origin
Where “tendon” comes from
Formed from Latin tendere, meaning to stretch, since a tendon transmits the pulling force of a stretching muscle.