Evidence map›Paper›PMID 18304204›Full record

ArticleJournal of anatomy2008

Structure-function relationships in tendons: a review.

M Benjamin, E Kaiser, S Milz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of anatomy, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 176 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
176citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

176 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Association Between TJournal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · 2021
    Trial
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Grafts in tendon repair.Materials today. Bio · 2026
    Review
  14. The cellular basis of fibrotic tendon healing: now in higher definition.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2026
    Review
  15. Immediate Effect of Four Exercises on Linea Alba Thickness, Distortion and Inter-Recti Distance in Parous Women.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
    Observational
  16. Review
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

116 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

M BenjaminSchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. benjamin@cardiff.ac.uk
E Kaiser
S Milz

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The purpose of the current review is to highlight the structure-function relationship of tendons and related structures to provide an overview for readers whose interest in tendons needs to be underpinned by anatomy. Because of the availability of several recent reviews on tendon development and entheses, the focus of the current work is primarily directed towards what can best be described as the 'tendon proper' or the 'mid-substance' of tendons. The review covers all levels of tendon structure from the molecular to the gross and deals both with the extracellular matrix and with tendon cells. The latter are often called 'tenocytes' and are increasingly recognized as a defined cell population that is functionally and phenotypically distinct from other fibroblast-like cells. This is illustrated by their response to different types of mechanical stress. However, it is not only tendon cells, but tendons as a whole that exhibit distinct structure-function relationships geared to the changing mechanical stresses to which they are subject. This aspect of tendon biology is considered in some detail. Attention is briefly directed to the blood and nerve supply of tendons, for this is an important issue that relates to the intrinsic healing capacity of tendons. Structures closely related to tendons (joint capsules, tendon sheaths, pulleys, retinacula, fat pads and bursae) are also covered and the concept of a 'supertendon' is introduced to describe a collection of tendons in which the function of the whole complex exceeds that of its individual members. Finally, attention is drawn to the important relationship between tendons and fascia, highlighted by Wood Jones in his concept of an 'ectoskeleton' over half a century ago - work that is often forgotten today.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaBone and BonesBursa, SynovialElasticityExtracellular MatrixHumansMusclesTendons

Identifiers

PMID18304204
PMCPMC2408985

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.