Tendon

A tendon is a stringy piece of cartilage that attaches muscles to bones, allowing the muscle to move the bone when it contracts.
One of the best known tendons is the Achilles Tendon, which attaches the muscles in the back of the calf to the heel bone. It is particularly prone to injury as it runs very close to the surface of the skin and undergoes a great deal of stress.
Tendonitis is when a tendon becomes inflamed, usually through overuse. Although this is not a life threatening condition, it is very painful and, if chronic, can cause serious disability.
A tendon can become detached from the bone, either by being severed by a trauma or in rare cases becoming detached through sheer muscular force. This condition requires surgical repair.
Category:Anatomy