Myotendinous Junction: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
[[File:Myotendinous junction structure.png|thumb|392x392px|MTJ structure]]
[[File:Myotendinous junction structure.png|thumb|392x392px|MTJ structure]]
Myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a part of the myotendinous unit, which connects muscle and tendon, and transmits forces between them.
Myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a part of the myotendinous unit, which connects muscle and tendon, and transmits forces between them (the myotendinous unit  consisting usually of [[bone]], enthesis, [[Tendon Anatomy|tendon]], myotendinous junction and [[Muscle Cells (Myocyte)|muscle]]<ref>Radiopedia Myotendinous unit Available: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-unit?lang=us<nowiki/>(accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>)


The MTJ has a unique morphology with a highly folded muscle membrane filled with invaginations of collagen fibrils from the tendon. This creates an increased area of force transmission between muscle and tendon and, as a result, disperses the energy of a contracting muscle decreasing focal stress<ref name=":0">Radiopedia Myotendinous junction Available:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-junction?lang=us (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref><ref name=":1">Jakobsen JR, Krogsgaard MR. The Myotendinous Junction—A Vulnerable Companion in Sports. A Narrative Review. Frontiers in physiology. 2021;12. Available;https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.635561/full (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>.
The MTJ has a unique morphology with a highly folded muscle membrane filled with invaginations of [[collagen]] fibrils from the tendon. This creates an increased area of force transmission between muscle and tendon and, as a result, disperses the energy of a contracting muscle, decreasing focal [[Stress Loading|stress]]<ref name=":0">Radiopedia Myotendinous junction Available:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-junction?lang=us (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref><ref name=":1">Jakobsen JR, Krogsgaard MR. The Myotendinous Junction—A Vulnerable Companion in Sports. A Narrative Review. Frontiers in physiology. 2021;12. Available;https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.635561/full (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>.


During muscle activity and mainly during high effort exercise, large forces are transmitted from muscle fibers to the tendon through the MTJ. It is a common location for strain injuries in sports. Most of these can be prevented by heavy eccentric exercise<ref name=":1" />.
During muscle activity and mainly during high effort exercise, large forces are transmitted from muscle fibers to the tendon through the MTJ. It is a common location for strain injuries in sports. Most of these can be prevented by heavy eccentric exercise<ref name=":1" />.
The surface area between muscle and tendon is enlarged by foldings of tendon into muscle, and this reduces stress between the tissues.


* In animals, the size and number of foldings are increased as a response to heavy training and reduced during inactivity.
* In animals, the size and number of foldings are increased as a response to heavy training and reduced during inactivity.
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== Physiotherapy Implications ==
== Physiotherapy Implications ==
[[File:Medial view of a cadaver dissection of the gastrocnemius–soleus junction.png|thumb|Dissection of the gastrocnemius–soleus MTJ|alt=|333x333px]]
[[File:Medial view of a cadaver dissection of the gastrocnemius–soleus junction.png|thumb|Dissection of the gastrocnemius–soleus MTJ|alt=|333x333px]]
In a healthy adult, the MTJ is the weakest region of the myotendinous unit and for that reason it is its most commonly injured part (the myotendinous unit  consisting usually of bone, enthesis, tendon, myotendinous junction and muscle<ref>Radiopedia Myotendinous unit Available: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-unit?lang=us<nowiki/>(accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>).
In a healthy adult, the MTJ is the weakest region of the myotendinous unit and for that reason it is its most commonly injured part.


* The highest risk of strain occurs in large pennate muscles that cross two joints and produce large tensile forces e.g. biceps femoris, quadratus femoris, biceps brachii<ref name=":0" />.
* The highest risk of strain occurs in large pennate muscles that cross two joints and produce large tensile forces e.g. [[Biceps Femoris|biceps femoris]], [[Quadratus Femoris|quadratus femoris]], [[Biceps Brachii|biceps brachii]]<ref name=":0" />.
* With aging there is shortening of the interdigitations with a resulting decrease in contact area between the sarcolemma and extracellular components.<ref>Wikimsk MTJ Available:https://wikimsk.org/wiki/Myotendinous_Junction (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>
* With [[Age Related Issues in Sports Medicine|aging]] there is shortening of the interdigitations with a resulting decrease in contact area between the sarcolemma and extracellular components.<ref>Wikimsk MTJ Available:https://wikimsk.org/wiki/Myotendinous_Junction (accessed 12.6.2022)</ref>


== US and MRI ==
== US and MRI ==
For correct diagnosis and prognosis a grading system of MTJ injuries was created
For correct diagnosis and prognosis a grading system of MTJ injuries was created


# Mild strain: feathery interstitial edema and fluid/hemorrhage around the MTJ
# Mild [[Muscle Strain|strain]]: feathery interstitial edema and fluid/hemorrhage around the MTJ
# Moderate strain: intramuscular hematoma and perifascial fluid/hemorrhage
# Moderate strain: intramuscular hematoma and perifascial fluid/hemorrhage
# Severe strain: MTJ tear with laxity/discontinuity of the tendon and muscle ends, sometimes with retraction
# Severe strain: MTJ tear with laxity/discontinuity of the tendon and muscle ends, sometimes with retraction


Scar tissue, old blood products and atrophy/fatty degeneration of the muscle are indicative of an old strain<ref name=":0" />.
[[Scar Management|Scar tissue]], old [[Blood Physiology|blood]] products and atrophy/fatty degeneration of the muscle are indicative of an old strain<ref name=":0" />.


== References  ==
== References  ==

Revision as of 07:37, 12 June 2022

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton  

Introduction[edit | edit source]

MTJ structure

Myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a part of the myotendinous unit, which connects muscle and tendon, and transmits forces between them (the myotendinous unit consisting usually of bone, enthesis, tendon, myotendinous junction and muscle[1])

The MTJ has a unique morphology with a highly folded muscle membrane filled with invaginations of collagen fibrils from the tendon. This creates an increased area of force transmission between muscle and tendon and, as a result, disperses the energy of a contracting muscle, decreasing focal stress[2][3].

During muscle activity and mainly during high effort exercise, large forces are transmitted from muscle fibers to the tendon through the MTJ. It is a common location for strain injuries in sports. Most of these can be prevented by heavy eccentric exercise[3].

  • In animals, the size and number of foldings are increased as a response to heavy training and reduced during inactivity.
  • In humans, the muscle fibers near the MTJ show very high rates of remodeling compared to other regions of the muscle.

Physiotherapy Implications[edit | edit source]

Dissection of the gastrocnemius–soleus MTJ

In a healthy adult, the MTJ is the weakest region of the myotendinous unit and for that reason it is its most commonly injured part.

  • The highest risk of strain occurs in large pennate muscles that cross two joints and produce large tensile forces e.g. biceps femoris, quadratus femoris, biceps brachii[2].
  • With aging there is shortening of the interdigitations with a resulting decrease in contact area between the sarcolemma and extracellular components.[4]

US and MRI[edit | edit source]

For correct diagnosis and prognosis a grading system of MTJ injuries was created

  1. Mild strain: feathery interstitial edema and fluid/hemorrhage around the MTJ
  2. Moderate strain: intramuscular hematoma and perifascial fluid/hemorrhage
  3. Severe strain: MTJ tear with laxity/discontinuity of the tendon and muscle ends, sometimes with retraction

Scar tissue, old blood products and atrophy/fatty degeneration of the muscle are indicative of an old strain[2].

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Radiopedia Myotendinous unit Available: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-unit?lang=us(accessed 12.6.2022)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Radiopedia Myotendinous junction Available:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/myotendinous-junction?lang=us (accessed 12.6.2022)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Jakobsen JR, Krogsgaard MR. The Myotendinous Junction—A Vulnerable Companion in Sports. A Narrative Review. Frontiers in physiology. 2021;12. Available;https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.635561/full (accessed 12.6.2022)
  4. Wikimsk MTJ Available:https://wikimsk.org/wiki/Myotendinous_Junction (accessed 12.6.2022)