Tendons and Ligaments

Question 1

What do tendons connect?

Answer 1

muscle to muscle

Question 2

What do ligaments connect?

Answer 2

muscle to bone

Question 3

What are the cells called in tendons and ligaments?

Answer 3

fibroblasts

Question 4

What kind of matrix are fibroblasts embedded into?

Answer 4

collagen

Question 5

How are collagen fibres arranged in tendons?

Answer 5

completely in parallel

Question 6

How are collagen fibres arranged in ligaments?

Answer 6

still broadly in parallel but with some branched and interwoven fibres

Question 7

Why are tendon collagen fibres arranged completely in parallel?

Answer 7

tendons have to withstand large loads in one direction

Question 8

Why are ligament collagen fibres not arranged completely in parallel?

Answer 8

ligaments sometimes have to withstand smaller loads in other directions

Question 9

How much stretch can the ACL withstand before it fails completely?

Answer 9

7mm

Question 10

What is the basic mechanical behaviour of ligaments and tendons?

Answer 10

viscoelastic

Question 11

What does a patient experience as collagen fibres are progressively ruptured?

Answer 11

progressively more pain and joint instability