What Type of Tissue Are Tendons?
The musculoskeletal system contains several types of connective tissue, including ligaments, tendons and fasciae. All three provide stabilizing and movement function that coalesce, thereby allowing the body to efficiently perform various physical activities. Tendons, in particular, play a pivotal role in muscle-to-bone interaction and are found throughout the body.
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Tendon Structure
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Tendons, like other forms of connective, are composed mainly of collagen arranged in parallel arrays. Collagen is a group of fibrous polypeptide chains found mainly in the connective tissues of various animals. Type I collagen, the most abundant type in the body, encompasses the bulk of tendon tissue. In addition, tendons display a variety of different lengths depending on their respective location in the body.
Function
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Tendons function as an elastic connection for muscles to various bones in the body. A tendon may either be a flexor or extensor tendon depending on the type of muscle that it connects. The elasticity of tendons allows for the transfer of large amounts of force from the muscles in addition to providing stability through the connection to bone.
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Specific Tendons
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The Achilles, or calcaneal, tendon is perhaps one of the most easily observed tendons in the body. It functions in walking and running by connecting the calf muscles to the calcaneus, or heel bone. The patellar tendon also functions in the lower extremities of the body by connecting the quadriceps to the tibial bone and it plays a crucial role in knee joint stability.
Tendon Injuries
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There are different degrees of tendon injuries, ranging from inflammation and weakening to complete ruptures. The severity of the injury dictates the treatment protocol as most ruptures require surgery to reattach the tendon while inflammation may be treated simply with rest. Tendonitis is perhaps the most commonly observed injury resulting from degradation and subsequent weakening of the collagen fibrils. If left untreated, tendonitis may progress to a complete rupture of the tendon.
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