Tendon

A tendon is a strong, fibrous connective tissue structure that connects muscle to bone (or fascia), transmitting the force of muscle contraction to produce movement or maintain posture.

It is composed mainly of densely packed type I collagen fibres arranged in parallel bundles, with tenocytes (specialized fibroblasts) lying between them. This structure provides high tensile strength along the tendon’s long axis.

At the myotendinous junction, collagen fibres interdigitate with the sarcolemma of muscle fibres, ensuring secure attachment. At the other end, the tendon becomes continuous with the periosteum of bone.

Tendons are relatively poorly vascularized, but they are richly innervated with sensory endings involved in proprioception and pain detection (e.g., Golgi tendon organs).