Tendon cell Tendon cell Tendon cells, or tenocytes, are elongated fibroblast type cells. The cytoplasm is stretched between the collagen fibres of the tendon. They have a central cell nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Tendon cells have a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and they are responsible for synthesis and turnover of tendon fibres and ground substance. Tendon cells form a connecting epithelial layer between the muscle and shell in molluscs. In gastropods, for example, the retractor muscles connect to the shell via tendon cells. Muscle cells are attached to the collagenous myo-tendon space via hemidesmosomes. The myo-tendon space is then attached to
Conjoint tendon A weakening of the conjoint tendon can precipitate a direct inguinal hernia. A direct inguinal hernia will protrude through Hesselbach's triangle, whose borders are the rectus abdominis (medially), inferior epigastric artery and vein (superolaterally), and the inguinal ligament (inferiorly). The hernia will lie medial to the inferior epigastric artery. This is in contrast to an indirect inguinal hernia, which will protrude laterally to the inferior epigastric artery and is most commonly due to an embryological defect in the closure of the deep inguinal ring. Conjoint tendon The conjoint tendon (previously known as the inguinal aponeurotic falx) is a structure formed