The Achilles Tendon

Today we discuss a tendon named after the Ancient Greek Demigod Achilles which is a good name for the strongest tendon in the human body! Legend has it Achilles was dipped in the River Styx by his mother Thetis who secured him by his heal to do so. This action made Achilles invulnerable to damage everywhere that touched the sacred waters. Fast forward to the Trojan war and an arrow shot to the unsanctified ‘Achilles heel’ ultimately resulted in his demise and has forever become synonymous with a weak spot or vulnerability. Let’s explore the anatomy of said tendon, its function, and some clinical bits and bobs to close out this 5-minute soundbite.