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Something that is sinewy is full of sinews, which are tendons that attach muscles to bones. Sinewy things are tough, stringy, and strong. There are about 4,000 tendons in the human body, and they come in varying lengths. Longer tendons are beneficial for athletes who need to run or jump, while shorter tendons are advantageous for bodybuilders seeking to increase muscle mass. Sinew has been used throughout history as a durable fiber and is also consumed as food in some Asian cuisines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Muscular with a tight and stretched toughness |
| Synonyms | Brawny, vigorous |
| Composition | Consists of or resembles a tendon or tendons |
| Tendon composition | Contains no nerve fibres; contains natural glues |
| Tendon properties | Strong, durable, elastic |
| Tendon function | Connects muscles to bones, transmits forces, provides stability |
| Tendon length | Varies from person to person |
| Tendon uses | Cordage material, food in some Asian cuisines |
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Tendon definition
A tendon, or sinew, is a tough cord or band of dense, fibrous connective tissue that connects muscles to bones. Tendons are found all over the body, from the head down to the toes. They are essential for movement, allowing bones to move as muscles contract and relax.
Tendons are composed primarily of collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in the body. They also contain Sharpey's fibres, which are collagen fibres that attach the tendon to the bone. Other collagen types present in tendons include type II collagen in the cartilaginous zones and type III collagen in the vascular walls' reticulin fibres. Tendons also contain blood vessels and nerves.
The Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone, is the body's largest tendon. Tendons are highly resistant to tearing but are not stretchy, making them susceptible to strain and partial tearing. Tendons are stiffer than muscles and possess great strength, such as the flexor tendons in the foot, which can withstand more than eight times the body weight.
Tendons have a protective outer covering called the sheath (synovium) that produces a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. This fluid helps the tendon slide smoothly where it meets muscle and bone. However, not all tendons have a sheath. Tendons are vulnerable to damage from overuse, injury, aging, and health conditions like arthritis.
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Muscle connection
The word "sinewy" is used to describe something that is full of sinews, or tendons, which attach muscles to bones. Sinewy muscle can be thought of as tough, stringy, and strong. In the context of the human body, it typically refers to a body that is muscular and brawny, with a tight and stretched toughness. For example, tennis players often have lean and sinewy arms, with muscles showing as they hit powerful serves.
The human body has about 4,000 tendons, and their length varies from person to person. Tendon length is a deciding factor in muscle size. For instance, a person with shorter tendons and longer bicep muscles will have a greater potential for muscle mass than someone with longer tendons and shorter muscles. Successful bodybuilders tend to have shorter tendons. In contrast, athletes in sports requiring running or jumping benefit from longer Achilles tendons.
Tendon length is determined by genetic predisposition and is not influenced by environmental factors, unlike muscles, which can be grown through exercise. Tendons are essential for muscle connection and movement. They allow muscles to be at an optimal distance from the site of movement, transmitting forces and providing stability. Some tendons are primarily for positioning limbs, such as when writing, while others act as springs to make locomotion more efficient.
The internal bulk of tendons contains no nerve fibres, but the epitenon and paratenon do contain nerve endings. Tendons have been used throughout history as cordage material due to their strength, natural glues, and ability to shrink as they dry, eliminating the need for knots. Even today, tendons are consumed as food in some Asian cuisines, such as Vietnamese pho or Chinese dim sum.
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Tendon length
The ratio of fascicle length to tendon length plays a significant role in determining the force-length properties of a muscle. The fascicle length relative to the tendon length will impact the active stiffness of the MTU. A longer tendon will result in reduced active stiffness, requiring a longer MTU length to achieve the same degree of myofilament overlap as a shorter tendon.
The length of tendons can be measured using various imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT). MRI and ultrasound are commonly used to predict graft sizes for reconstruction surgeries. CT can effectively measure tendon length, but it may be challenging to distinguish soft tissues in some cases due to their low x-ray attenuation.
Research has also explored the impact of tendon elongation and length changes during stretch-shortening cycles. It has been observed that tendon elongation can contribute to increased muscle force and optimize muscle fascicle behaviour. Additionally, the length of tendons in adults and children can differ, with adults having longer fascicles, muscles, and tendons than children. These differences are more pronounced when comparing adult men to boys and adult women to girls.
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Tendon uses
A tendon, or sinew, is a tough band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. Tendons are found all over the body, from the head down to the toes. They allow limbs to move and help prevent muscle injury by absorbing some of the impact when running, jumping, or performing other movements. Tendons are highly resistant to tearing but are not stretchy, which means they can be easily injured when strained and may take a long time to heal.
Tendons have several uses outside of the body, particularly in pre-industrial eras when they were widely used as a tough, durable fiber. For example, sinew was used for sewing, attaching feathers to arrows, lashing tool blades to shafts, and as a material for strong cordage in items like traps or living structures. The elastic properties of sinews were also used in composite recurved bows and the first stone-throwing artillery. In some Asian cuisines, tendon, especially beef tendon, is used as food, often served at yum cha or dim sum restaurants.
The human body contains about 4,000 tendons, with the largest being the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Tendons are mostly collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in the body. They are made of dense regular connective tissue, whose main cellular components are special fibroblasts called tendon cells (tenocytes). Tendon length is determined by genetic predisposition and has not been shown to be influenced by environmental factors.
Tendons work as levers to move bones as muscles contract and relax. They are stiffer than muscles and have great strength, with the flexor tendons in the foot capable of handling more than eight times the body weight. Tendons allow muscles to be at an optimal distance from the site of movement, passing through regions where space is limited, such as the carpal tunnel.
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Tendon ossification
A "sinew" is a tendon that attaches muscles to bones. Sinewy, therefore, refers to something that is muscular, with a tight and stretched toughness.
Calcific tendinitis (CT), tendon ossification, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are common HOTL diseases that cause significant disability. CT/tendon ossification is common in athletes, manual workers with repetitive tendon overuse, and the elderly, with severe pain and an increased risk of tendon rupture. OPLL of the spine results in the narrowing of the spinal canal, causing nerve/spinal cord compression.
Extensive Ossification of the Achilles Tendon (EOAT) is a rare form of tendon ossification characterised by heterotopic ossification within the substance of the Achilles tendon. It is often associated with acute trauma and is more common in men. EOAT presents with pain and swelling around the Achilles tendon and may go unnoticed for decades until the heterotopic bone fractures. While there is no standard treatment regimen for EOAT, conservative management for six months is recommended for patients without complications. Those with acute fractures may require surgical repair.
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Frequently asked questions
Sinewy muscles are those that are tough, stringy, and strong.
A tendon is a sinew, or a tissue that connects muscle to bone.
Due to its toughness and durability, sinew was widely used as a cordage material in pre-industrial eras.
Tennis players' lean and muscular arms are a great example of sinewy beauty.
Sinewy can also be used to describe things beyond muscles, such as tree limbs and roots, or even a person's voice.
