ANATOMY OF THE COMMON CALCANEAL TENDON IN RAT (RATTUS NORWEGICUS)

The aim of the study was to describe anatomy of the common calcaneal tendon in rat (Rattus norvegicus) and to correlate individual parts of the tendon with the muscles that act with the aid of them. Ten pelvic extremities of adult rats were fixed in 10% of formaldehyde and were dissected layer-by- layer method with microsurgical instruments under the operating microscope (4 and 10 fold magnification). The fascicles of the soleus muscle and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle compose the deepest layer of the tendon. The fascicle of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle is located more superficially. The strong tendon of the plantaris muscle covers the fascicles listed above. The common calcaneal tendon in rat is composed of twisted fascicles attaching on the tuber calcanei. Fascicles of the following muscles: gastrocnemius and soleus are twisted along the long axis of the common calcaneal tendon, which is additionally strengthened from behind by the plantaris tendon. A detailed knowledge of anatomy of the common calcaneal tendon in rats provides a better understanding of pathology of the tendon. Conclusions are often extrapolated to the human calcaneal tendon.