Animal Tissues

1. The topic that I have chosen to research is Tendons. Tendons are fibrous bands that connect muscle to bone. Tendons enable the body to move and be flexible. Walking, running, dancing, and other physical activities are all enabled by the tendons. The length of the tendon is determined by genetics and this then determines the muscle size. It is a great advantage for runners and jumpers to have longer than average tendons at the back of the heel and shorter calf muscles.

I know that in ballet, it is a great advantage to have flexible and long tendons. This way the body is able to stretch into all the different positions required. One can increase the flexibility of their tendons by stretching.

2. Tendons are all over the human body. Wherever there is a bone and a muscle, there is a tendon. For example, your Achilles tendon attaches the calf muscle to your heel. It is one of the longest tendons in the human body. You can see and feel this tendon at the back of your ankle. If you repeatedly stand on your toes, you will definitely feel the burn.

3. One of the most common kinds of tendon injury is called Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is a condition that causes pain along the back of the leg near the heel. Achilles tendinitis is caused when the Achilles tendon is inflamed. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or disease, and often causes swelling, pain, or irritation. The Achilles tendon, when inflamed will feel swollen and thick. It would feel painful to flex your foot and rise up onto your toes. It would also be painful to do everyday activities like walking or running.

There are two kinds of Achilles tendinitis, namely, Non-insertional Achilles Tendinitis and Insertional Achilles Tendinitis.

Non-insertional Achilles tendinitis is when fibers in the middle portion of the tendon have begun to break down with tiny tears, swell, and thicken. This kind of