tendon

Everyday

A tendon is a strong, tough band of tissue in the body that joins a muscle to a bone. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about the body, tendons let muscles pull on bones so we can move: when a muscle shortens it pulls the tendon, which moves the bone. The Achilles tendon at the back of the heel is the biggest. In PE, warming up helps protect tendons and muscles from injury. Compare: ligaments join bone to bone.

Examples

• A tendon joins muscle to bone. tree →
• The Achilles tendon is at the back of your heel. tree →
• The footballer hurt a tendon in his knee. tree →
• You can feel the tendons in your wrist when you move your fingers. tree →
• Warming up helps prevent tendon injuries. tree →
• Tendons are strong but not very stretchy. tree →
• The doctor said the tendon needs rest to heal. tree →

Note

Plural: tendons. Trap: tendon = muscle to bone; ligament = bone to bone. «Tendonitis» is a sore, swollen tendon. Spelling: -don, not -den.