01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Between many muscles and the bones they move.
02 / Structure & organization
Tendons contain dense, predominantly parallel collagen bundles organized to transmit tension. Cells maintain the matrix, and connective-tissue coverings permit gliding or integration with neighboring structures. Some tendons pass through synovial sheaths.
03 / Function
It transfers the pull of a muscle to move a body part.
04 / Mechanism
Bundles of strong collagen fibers carry tension from a contracting muscle to an attachment point. Some tendons are long enough to transmit force over a joint or into a finger. They move with the muscle's pull.
Working together: muscular system
When you bend your elbow, some muscles contract while others relax. Their coordinated pull moves the bones at the joint.
Meet this body system →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Tendons transmit muscle force and may store elastic energy. Their fiber arrangement suits directional loading rather than active contraction.
Check your understanding
Locate the tendon in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.