What is the function of tendons?

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What is the function of tendons?

Tendons serve as the mechanical link between muscle and bone, transmitting the force generated by a muscle contraction to the skeleton so movement can occur. They are made of dense, tightly packed collagen fibers arranged to resist pulling forces, which lets them efficiently convert muscle shortening into joint motion. For example, when the biceps contracts, the tendon attached to the forearm pulls on the bone to bend the elbow. Tendons don’t produce blood cells—that’s the job of bone marrow—nor do they store minerals the way bone does, and they don’t conduct electrical signals the way nerves or muscle membranes do. So the primary function is to transfer force from muscle to bone to enable movement.

Tendons serve as the mechanical link between muscle and bone, transmitting the force generated by a muscle contraction to the skeleton so movement can occur. They are made of dense, tightly packed collagen fibers arranged to resist pulling forces, which lets them efficiently convert muscle shortening into joint motion. For example, when the biceps contracts, the tendon attached to the forearm pulls on the bone to bend the elbow. Tendons don’t produce blood cells—that’s the job of bone marrow—nor do they store minerals the way bone does, and they don’t conduct electrical signals the way nerves or muscle membranes do. So the primary function is to transfer force from muscle to bone to enable movement.

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