Sesamoid bone

Sesamoid bone
Sesamoid bone
	Sesamoid bones at the distal end of the first metatarsal bone of the foot.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	os sesamoideum; pl. ossa sesamoidea;
MeSH	D012716
TA98	A02.0.00.016
TA2	374
FMA	32672
	Anatomical terms of bone

In anatomy, a sesamoid bone (/ˈsɛsəmɔɪd/)^[1]^[2] is a bone embedded within a tendon or a muscle.^[3] Its name is derived from the Greek word for 'sesame seed', indicating the small size of most sesamoids. Often, these bones form in response to strain,^[4] or can be present as a normal variant. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. Sesamoids act like pulleys, providing a smooth surface for tendons to slide over, increasing the tendon's ability to transmit muscular forces.^[3]

^ OED 2nd edition, 1989 as /sεsəmɔɪd/
^ Entry "sesamoid" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
^ ^a ^b "Sesamoid Injuries". aofas.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
^ Saladin, Kenneth S. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-07-337825-1.

[1] OED 2nd edition, 1989 as /sεsəmɔɪd/

[2] Entry "sesamoid" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

[aofas.org-3] "Sesamoid Injuries". aofas.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2014-12-06.

[auto-4] Saladin, Kenneth S. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-07-337825-1.

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