tendinopathy

Question 1

function of tendons

Answer 1

• transmit forces generated by muscle contraction to bone for joint movement
• skeletal support act as buffers and absorb external forces to limit muscle damage
• store and release elastic energy through stretching and recoiling

Question 2

attachments

Answer 2

• proximal
• distal
• aponeuroses a sheet of fibrous tissue that takes the place of a tendon in flat muscles having a wide area of attachment

Question 3

Musculotendinous junction

Answer 3

where the tendon joins a muscle
weakest point (tear)

Question 4

osteotendinous junction

Answer 4

where the tendon joins the bone
most tendinopathy

Question 5

composition of tendons

Answer 5

• specialised fibroblasts called tenocytes
  extracellular matrix
• fibres (collagen and elastin)
• ground substance

Question 6

tenocytes

Answer 6

• mechanosensitive
• detect changes in load
• through deformation of their cytoskeleton
• they respond by synthesising the extracellular matrix

Question 7

collagen

Answer 7

allows tendons to resist tensile stress through a densly packed design

Question 8

what is the structure of collagen

Answer 8

1. collagen fibril
2. collagen fiber
3. primary fiber bundle (subfascicle)
4. secondary fiber bundle (fascicle)
5. tertiary fiber bundle
6. tendon

Question 9

elastin

Answer 9

allows tendon to resume its shape after stretching or contracting, and stores mechanical energy

Question 10

ground substance
(interstitual fluid + proteins)

Answer 10

allows tendons to resist compressive forces through its high water content. this is due to the proteoglycans embeded within it

Question 11

effects of loading

intense training

Answer 11

• collagen made mechano transduction
• also degraded
• 36 hrs net synthesis of collagen sythesis is positive

Question 12

aeitiology tendinopathy

Answer 12

• repetitive energy storage & release and excessive compression appear to be key factors
• extrinsic factors (volume, intensity, frequency)
• intrinsic factors ( genes, sex, age, biomechanics, adiposity

adiposity - obesity / too much body fat

Question 13

why do tendons take so long to heal

Answer 13

• tendinopathy at OTJ least blood supply
• tendon vascularity is compramised at junction zones
• Tendon blood flow declines with age and mechanical loading
• 7.5x lower oxygen consumption than skeletal muscles