2025 Volume No 53 – pages 65-81
Title: Vascular dynamics in tendon health and pathology: exploring mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities |
Authors: H Tempfer, A Traweger |
Address: Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria |
E-mail: Herbert.Tempfer at pmu.ac.at |
Abstract: Tendons are bradytrophic tissues, characterized by a dense extracellular matrix in their core, low cellularity, and limited vascularization under healthy conditions. Upon sustaining injury or undergoing degenerative changes, matrix quality decreases and generally a hypervascular, fibrotic scar tissue forms. The significance of angiogenesis in this context remains a topic of ongoing debate and investigation. This review focuses on the vasculature of healthy tendon tissue and the angiogenic mechanisms involved in tendinopathy, with a particular emphasis on Achilles tendon tendinopathy. Furthermore, this narrative review discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the potential benefits of either promoting or limiting vascular supply in tendon healing. |
Keywords: Tendon vasculature, Achilles tendinopathy, VEGF, angiogenesis. |
Publication date: 31st October 2025 |
Copyright policy: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Forum Multimedia Publishing, LLC. This article is distributed in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Article download: Pages 65-81 (PDF file) |
