Sesamoid

Original Editor - Patti Cavaleri

Top Contributors - Patti Cavaleri, Wendy Snyders and Kim Jackson

Description[edit | edit source]

Sesamoid Bone.png

Sesamoid bones are a type of bone that develop in some tendons where they cross the ends of long bones[1]. Sesamoids ossify during puberty and delayed ossification can indicate delayed onset of puberty.

Sesamoid bones in the human body include:

Function[edit | edit source]

Sesamoids protect tendons from excessive wear and act as a spacer to change the angle of tendons before the reach their attachment point[1]. The change in angle improves muscle force generation.

Clinical relevance[edit | edit source]

Pathology in sesamoids can be congenital or a result of trauma. Common pathology seen in sesamoid bones include:

Management of the different pathologies varies depending on the diagnosis. Physiotherapy or conservative management is typically the first line of treatment for atraumatic pathology of sesamoids.

[4]

Sesamoid bones are discussed at 1:32.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Moore KL, Dalley AF, R. AAM. Clinically oriented anatomy. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2018.
  2. Oohashi Y, Koshino T, Oohashi Y. Clinical features and classification of bipartite or tripartite patella. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010 Nov;18(11):1465-9.
  3. Bartosiak K, McCormick JJ. Avascular Necrosis of the Sesamoids. Foot Ankle Clin. 2019 Mar;24(1):57-67.
  4. RegisteredNurseRN. Types of Bones Anatomy: Long, Short, Flat, Irregular, Sesamoid, Sutural. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPiEc8OZAKU [last accessed 21/2/2022]