The ultrastructure of the adult and developing human myotendinous junction.

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the adult and foetal human myotendon is described. At the myotendon the muscle fibre is surrounded by plasma and basement membranes which are never penetrated by the adjacent collagen fibrils of the tendon. Increased thickness and electron density of the plasma membrane and the myofilaments which merge with it occur at the myotendon and this electron dense zone corresponds to the terminal Z-line of the final sarcomere of the myofibril. In the adult the muscle fibre near the myotendon may contain nemaline rods and zebra-bodies. The tendon in the foetus shows much more activity of the fibroblasts than in the normal adult. The collagen fibrils of the early foetus are thinner in diameter than at later stages of development. The union of the tendon with cartilage is illustrated.