Sesamoid
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures- Sesamoid bone
- Sesamoid bones
- Sesamoids
Sesamoids, also known as sesamoid bones, are focal areas of ossification within tendons as they pass over joints 1. They can also occur in ligaments and usually measure a few millimeters in diameter. Their function is purported to be to alter the direction of the tendon and modify pressure, thereby reducing friction 2.
Some sesamoids form part of normal human anatomy (e.g. patella), while others are anatomical variants (e.g. fabella).
Sesamoid bones of the lower limb include:
See the article on ossicles of the lower limb.
Sesamoid bones of the upper limb are usually found in the hand at the following joints 3:
-
1st metacarpophalangeal joint sesamoid (two)
reported incidence of 100% 4
Less commonly, they may also occur at the 3rd and 4th metacarpophalangeal joints 4.
Sesamoid ossicles can also form in the nuchal ligament.
History and etymology
Sesamoids get their name because the smallest bones resemble sesame seeds in size and morphology 1,3.
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Edinburgh; Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, c2005. ISBN:0443071691. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Rosse C, Gaddum-Rosse P, Hollinshead WH. Hollinshead's textbook of anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (1997) ISBN:0397512562. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Kalantari BN, Seeger LL, Motamedi K, Chow K. Accessory ossicles and sesamoid bones: Spectrum of pathology and imaging evaluation. Appl Radiol. 2007;36(10):28-37. Appl Radiol (full text)
- 4. Chen W, Cheng J, Sun R, Zhang Z, Zhu Y, Ipaktchi K, Zhang Y. Prevalence and variation of sesamoid bones in the hand: a multi-center radiographic study. (2015) International journal of clinical and experimental medicine. 8 (7): 11721-6. Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Interphalangeal joint sesamoid (hand)
- Hallux sesamoid
- Patella
- Cyamella
- Patella cubiti
- Patellar tendon
- Bony skeleton
- Sesamoiditis
- Hyoid bone
- Accessory ossicles of the lower limb
- Sesamoid fracture
- Medial cuneiform
- Periosteum
- Synovial joints
- Phalanges of the feet
- Gastrocnemius muscle
- Pisiform
- Multipartite hallux sesamoid
- Bone types
- Fabella
- Postaxial polydactyly of foot
- Thumb sesamoid fracture
- Splay feet
- Osteonecrosis of the medial hallux sesamoid
- Splay feet
- Achilles tendon ossification
- 1st metatarsal head fracture
- Thumb sesamoid fracture
- Acute calcific periarthritis
- Fracture of the ulnar sesamoid of the first metacarpophalangeal joint
- Sesamoid fracture of left thumb
- Interphalangeal joint sesamoid of great toe
- Hallux sesamoid fracture
- Fractured lateral and bipartite medial hallux sesamoid bones
- Hallucal and lesser metatarsal sesamoids
- Hallucal and lesser metatarsal sesamoids
- Bipartite medial hallux sesamoid with sesamoiditis
- Lesser metatarsal sesamoid
- Sesamoid ossicles of the nuchal ligament
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