Tendons are found all over the body and while you may know a little about them, you might be surprised to learn a few of these facts.
1.Tendons are found all over the body and connect muscles to bones, helping joints move when muscles tighten.
2.Tendons come in different shapes and sizes. They can be long and thin (like the Achilles tendon), flat and thin, or thick, depending on where they attach.
3. Tendons can stretch like elastic bands and bounce back, but they can also tear if too much force is applied.
4. Tendons are living tissues affected by things like hormones, immune issues, and nutrition, which can affect how well they handle stress.
5. Tendons don’t just attach muscles to bones; they can also connect to other parts of the body, like the eyeball.
6. Tendon injuries often happen from overuse rather than tearing. They heal slowly because they have less blood supply than muscles.
7. Tendons are mostly made of collagen fibers that are organized. If a tendon degenerates, its collagen fibers become disorganized, making it weaker and less flexible.
8. The Achilles tendon is the body’s strongest. It connects the big calf muscles to the back of the heel, allowing the ankle to move away from the body. It’s named after a mythological Greek hero known for his vulnerable heel.
9. The smallest tendon is in the inner ear, attaching to the smallest muscle in the body.
10. Tendons and muscles work together to move joints, acting as a team to make movement possible.