In anatomy, a sesamoid bone (/ˈsɛsəmɔɪd/) is a bone embedded within a tendon.
Sesamoids are found in locations where a tendon passes over a joint, such as the hand, knee, and foot. Functionally, they act to protect the tendon and to increase its mechanical effect. The presence of the sesamoid bone holds the tendon slightly farther away from the center of the joint and thus increases its moment arm. Sesamoid bones also prevent the tendon from flattening into the joint as tension increases and therefore also maintain a more consistent moment arm through a variety of possible tendon loads. This differs from menisci, which are made of cartilage and rather act to disperse the weight of the body on joints and reduce friction during movement.
Read more about Sesamoid Bone: Human Anatomy, In Other Animals
Famous quotes containing the word bone:
“Sang a bone upon the shore;
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When my body was alive
Found all the pleasure that life gave”:
A bone wave-whitened and dried in the wind.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)