Hi everyone! I couldnt find anything that answered this question, so here goes: Im doing osteology right now and I came across this phrase on Wikipedia:
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“Sesamoids act like pulleys, providing a smooth surface for tendons to slide over, increasing the tendon’s ability to transmit muscular forces.”
I think I kind of understand how pulleys work: You use less force over a longer distance, yet the amount of work is the same.
Im confused as to how this is applied on sesamoid bones. I understood they are “simply” embedded into our tendons. How exactly would they be creating a larger distance, as seen by the mechanism of pulleys? And how would that put less strain on the tendons?
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If I got it wrong please let me know! (Will flair this under physics since I believe my problem is understanding its biomechanics.) Thank you so much in advance!
In: Physics
I think it’s better to say the kneecap (a sesamoid bone) is acting as a fulcrum, which is modifying the existing pulley system (muscles, long bones, tendons).
Here’s a [1:30 YouTube video demonstrating the effect ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XnYO4TnpTCo)
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