Abstract

A systematic morphological investigation of human palmaris longus tendons by polarisation microscopy and low angle x-ray diffraction is reported. It is shown that contrary to some previously reported observations, and in common with other tension bearing soft collagenous tissues, the fibres in this tendon are crimped. A new method of preparation of the tissue enabling one to see directly the crimped organisation in scanning electron microscopy was used to reinforce the findings by other methods.