The sheath or covering of connective tissue that surrounds a tendon, protecting it and allowing it to move smoothly.
From 'epi' (upon) combined with Latin 'tendinis' (of a tendon), literally meaning 'upon the tendon.' The suffix '-eum' creates a noun indicating a surrounding structure.
The epitendineum is basically a tiny sleeve around each tendon—this simple anatomical detail matters enormously because tendons that lack good epitendineum sheaths (like in fingers) are more prone to severe injury and scarring when cut.
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