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Tenocyte
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The tenocyte is the cell that lives inside the tendon and maintains it. It is an elongated, specialized fibroblast, meaning one of the cells that build supporting tissue; it shares that space with tenoblasts, which are the ovoid version.
Its job is to produce the extracellular matrix, that is, the material surrounding the cells that is in fact the tendon itself: mostly collagen, the protein that provides strength, and proteoglycans. Collagen makes up roughly 65% to 80% of that matrix, the predominant kind is type I, and its fibers are not laid down in just any direction: they all run parallel to the tendon's axis. The cables do not tangle at random: they all run in the direction of the force.
And all of that serves a single purpose. The tendon works as a mechanical bridge: it carries the force the muscle generates to the bones and joints that have to move.
In brief
Tenocytes are specialized, elongated fibroblasts that share the tendon with tenoblasts, which are ovoid.
They make the components of the extracellular matrix, including collagen and proteoglycans; collagen accounts for roughly 65% to 80% of that matrix, type I predominates, and its fibers run parallel to the tendon's axis.
The cables do not tangle at random: they all run in the direction of the force.
The tendon is the mechanical bridge that transmits muscle force to bones and joints.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingAnatomy, Tendons, StatPearlsPublished
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