Tendons Vs Paratenon

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Tendons are surrounded by loose areolar connective tissue called paratenon. The main components of the paratenon are the type I collogen about 95% and about 5% of type II collagen of the dry tendon weight but smaller quantities of other collagens are also present, including types V, VI, XII and type II collagen (Robi et al. 2013).
The bundles of collagen fibrils are wrapped in endotenon, which in turn is enveloped by an epitenon, forming the actual tendon. A real synovial sheath is present only in some tendons, such as tibialis posterior, peroneal, and extensor and flexor tendons of the wrist and the hand; other tendons do not have a proper sheath, with the epitenon instead surrounded by a paratenon, a layer of thin tissue(Abate et al. 2009). The space between these two layers contains fluids rich in mucopolysaccharides that provide lubrication, prevent …show more content…

They primarily differ in vascular supply. In sheathed tendons there is a vessel that supply blood to one parts of the tendon and the other section nutrition depend on the diffusion. On the other hand, paratenon-covered tendons receive their blood supply from vessels entering the tendon surface and forming a rich capillary system.(Kannus 2000) Because of the difference in blood supply paratenon-covered tendons heal better than the sheated tendons(Robi et al. 2013).
Under the paratenon, the whole tendon is covered by a fine connective tissue sheath called epitenon. On its external surface, the epitenon is touching with paratenon. To enhance connectivity, there is a high level of hydration of proteoglycan parts between the endotenon and the surface of the tendon fascicles (Rowe, 1985). Along with its important function of binding, the endotenon system permits the fiber bundle to slide on each other and transports bloods to veins, nerves, and lymphatics to the more profound part of the tendon (Elliott, 1965; Hess et al.,

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