1. Tendons
- Are fibrous bands of dense connective tissue that connect muscles to bones or
cartilage. - Are supplied by sensory fibers extending from muscle nerves.
2. Ligaments
- Are fibrous bands that connect bones to bones or cartilage, or are folds of peritoneum serving to support visceral structures.
3. Raphe
- Is the line of union of symmetrical structures by a fibrous or tendinous band such as the pterygomandibular, pharyngeal, and scrotal raphes.
4. Aponeuroses
- Are flat fibrous sheets or expanded broad tendons that attach to muscles and serve as the means of origin or insertion of a flat muscle.
5. Retinaculum
- Is a fibrous band that holds a structure in place in the region of joints.
6. Bursae
- Are flattened sacs of synovial membrane that contain a viscid fluid for moistening the bursa wall to facilitate movement by minimizing friction.
- Are found where a tendon rubs against a bone, ligament, or other tendon.
- Are prone to fill with fluid when infected, and may communicate with an adjacent joint cavity.
7. Synovial tendon sheath
- Are tubular sacs filled with synovial fluid that wrap around the tendons .
- Occur where tendons pass under ligaments or retinacula and through osseofibrous tunnels, thus facilitating movement by reducing friction.
- Have linings, like synovial membrane, that respond to infection by forming more fluid and by proliferating more cells, causing adhesions and thus restriction of movement of the tendon.
8. Fascia
- Is a fibrous sheet that envelops the body under the skin and invests the muscles and may limit the spread of pus and extravasated fluids such as urine and blood.
I. Superficial fascia
- Is a loose connective tissue between the dermis and the deep (investing) fascia and has a fatty superficial layer and a membranous deep layer.
- Contains fat, cutaneous vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and glands.
II. Deep fascia
- Is a sheet of fibrous tissue that invests the muscles and helps support them by serving as an elastic sheath or stocking.
- Provides origins and insertions for muscles and forms retinacula and fibrous sheaths for tendons.
- Forms potential pathways for infection or extravasation of fluids.
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