1540s, from Medieval Latin tendonem (nominative tendo), altered (by influence of Latin tendere "to stretch") of Late Latin tenon, from Greek tenon (genitive tenontos) "tendon, sinew," from teinein "to stretch" (see tenet).
tendon ten·don (těn'dən)
n.
A band of tough, inelastic fibrous tissue that connects a muscle with its bony attachment and consists of rows of elongated cells, minimal ground substance, and densely arranged, almost parallel, bundles of collageneous fibers.