Three-Dimensional infrastructure of Human Tendons

摘要

The three-dimensional ultrastructure of human tendons has been studied. Epitenon and peritenon consis of a dense network of longitudinal, oblique and transversal collagen fibrils crossing the tendon fibres. The interna structure of tendon fibres is also complex. The collagen fibrils are oriented not only longitudinally but also transversel· and horizontally. The longitudinal fibrils do not run only parallel but also cross each other forming spirals (plaits) These fibril bundles are bound together by a three-dimensional collagen fibril network of endotenon. In the myotendi nous junction the surface of the muscle cells form processes. A network of tendineal collagen fibrils fills the recesses between the muscle cell processes penetrating the basement membrane of these processes. This complex ultrastructur < of human tendons most likely offers a good buffer system against longitudinal, transversal, horizontal as well as rotational forces during movement and activity