In
anatomy, a sesamoid bone is a
bone embedded within a
tendon.Sesamoid bones are typically 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.
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