A tendon attaches muscle to bone. The
Achilles tendon, also called the heel cord, attaches the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel
bone (calcaneus). It is the largest tendon in the body and withstands a large
amount of weight with each foot movement.
The Achilles tendon allows the foot to point downward and enables a
person to stand on his or her toes.
January 3, 2013
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & David Bardana, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine
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