Tendon
Tendons are made up of:
TENOCYTES are cells in tendon tissue that create all the extracellular components of the tendon.
The EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX gives the tissue its special biomechanical characteristics. The most important components of the matrix are type-I collagen and the ground substance. Collagen is the substance that gives the tendon rigidity and tensile strength when it is subject to stress and that gives it flexibility when it is bent, compressed or twisted.
The ground substance is made up of water and mucopolysaccharides. It is responsible for organizing the conjunctive tissue by orienting the collagen fibrils and keeping them in order to determine the final shape of the tissue and the organism.
TENDINOPATHIES IN SPORTS
Tendons are subject to a great deal of stress, overuse and friction during sports activity that can easily lead to inflammatory injuries, either in the form of tendonitis or spontaneous tears in serious cases.
Tendonitis: inflammation of the body of the tendon.
Peritendonitis: inflammation of the outer layer of the tendon.
Tenosynovitis: inflammation of the tendon sheath.
Enthesopathies: pathologies of the point where the tendon inserts into the bone.
Tendon tears: breaks in the tendon with temporary loss of function.
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Histology of a
normal tendon.. |
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Histology of a
damaged tendon..
Separation and deformation
of collagen fibrils. |
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