Sesamoid bone

Sesamoid bone
Sesamoid bones at the distal end of the first metatarsal bone of the foot.
Details
Identifiers
Latin
  • os sesamoideum
  • pl. ossa sesamoidea
MeSHD012716
TA98A02.0.00.016
TA2374
FMA32672
Anatomical terms of bone

In anatomy, a sesamoid bone (/ˈsɛsəmɔɪd/)[1][2] is a bone embedded within a tendon or a muscle.[3] Its name is derived from the Greek word for 'sesame seed', indicating the small size of most sesamoids. Often, these bones form in response to strain,[4] or can be present as a normal variant. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. Sesamoids act like pulleys, providing a smooth surface for tendons to slide over, increasing the tendon's ability to transmit muscular forces.[3]

  1. ^ OED 2nd edition, 1989 as /sεsəmɔɪd/
  2. ^ Entry "sesamoid" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
  3. ^ a b "Sesamoid Injuries". aofas.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  4. ^ Saladin, Kenneth S. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-07-337825-1.