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Achilles Tendon

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(Redirected from Calcaneal tendon)

Description

Illustration of the Achilles tendon[4]
Ultrasound of the Achilles tendon. Normal views in long axis (A) and short axis (B). On the panoramic field-of-view scan (c) US shows the Achilles tendon (arrows) anteriorly in relation to the muscle belly of the flexor hallucis longus [1], to Kager's triangle [2] and in the pre-insertional area to the calcaneal tuberosity [3], to the posterior malleolus [4] and the posterior margin of the talus [5][5]

Alternative Names

  • Heel cord
  • Calcaneal tendon
  • Named after Greek hero Achilles

Origin

  • Coalescence of the Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles to form a common tendon
  • Plantaris, when present, also inserts into Achilles
  • Arises in the middle calf

Insertion

  • Calcaneal tuberosity of the Calcaneus
  • Rotates approximately 90 degrees laterally during its course to insert[6]

Characteristics

  • Approximately 12-15 cm long
  • Thickest, strongest and largest tendon in the human body

Paratenon

  • No tendon sheath, just a large highly vascularized paratenon
  • Acts as a conduit for the vasculature of the tendon and facilitates tendon gliding between the subcutaneous tissue and posterior fascia[7]

Kager's fat pad

  • Located anterior to Achilles tendon
  • Protects blood vessels entering the tendon[8]

Actions

  • Plantarflexion of the ankle

Vascular Supply


Innervation

  • Sural nerve
  • Smaller branches of the tibial nerve

Clinical Significance

Pathology

Procedures


See Also


References

  1. Mansfield, Kirsten, et al. "Achilles tendon ruptures and repair in athletes—a review of sports-related Achilles injuries and return to play." Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine 15.5 (2022): 353-361.
  2. Nagelli, C. V., et al. "Mechanical and strain behaviour of human Achilles tendon during in vitro testing to failure." European cells & materials 43 (2022): 153.
  3. Pearce, Christopher J., and Audrey Tan. "Non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy." EFORT Open Reviews 1.11 (2016): 383-390.
  4. Barfod, Kristoffer Weisskirchner. "Acute Achilles tendon rupture: assessment of non-operative treatment." Dan Med J 61 (2014): B4837.
  5. Gervasio, Andrea, Paola Bollani, and Aurelio Biasio. "US in mid-portion Achilles tendon injury." Journal of Ultrasound 17.2 (2014): 135-139.
  6. Maulli, N.; Aicale, R.; Tarantino, D. Tendinopathy of the Achilles Tendon. In Ankle Joint Arthroscopy: A Step-By-Step Guide; Allegra, F., Cortese, F., Lijoi, F., Eds.; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2020; pp. 227–237.
  7. Lohrer H, Arentz S, Nauck T, Dorn-Lange NV, Konerding MA. The Achilles tendon insertion is crescent-shaped: an in vitro anatomic investigation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008;466(9):2230–2237.
  8. enjamin M, Moriggl B, Brenner E, Emery P, McGonagle D, Redman S. The “enthesis organ” concept: why enthesopathies may not present as focal insertional disorders. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50(10):3306–3313.
  9. Chen TM, Rozen WM, Pan WR, Ashton MW, Richardson MD, Taylor GI. The arterial anatomy of the Achilles tendon: anatomical study and clinical implications. Clin Anat. 2009;22(3):377–385.
Created by:
John Kiel on 4 May 2021 14:43:09
Authors:
Last edited:
5 December 2025 16:10:03
Category: