Figure 1.

The structure and vascular supply of tendon. (a) The hierarchical structure of a typical tendon, composed of bundles of collagen fibrils bound together into fibres by the endotenon and surrounded by the epitenon. Adapted from Connective Tissue Research [94]. (b) Diagram showing the vincula supply to the sheathed digital flexor tendons (grey line with arrowheads). Published with permission from Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery [32]. (c) The supplying artery forms branches (mesotenon) into the tendon, passing through the sheath at a number of sites. Published with permission from Grant's Atlas of Anatomy [95]. (d) Blood vessels are arranged longitudinally in the epitenon, with frequent cross-anastomoses, and pass through the endotenon surrounding the fibre bundles (fascicles). Published with permission from Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery [32].