Aponeurosis
Short definition
A flat tendon — the continuation of stabilizer muscles (rectus, erectors, gastrocnemius).
Full definition
Aponeurosis — the flat continuation of the tendon in wide-origin muscles: rectus abdominis, obliques, erectors, gastrocnemius. It gathers the force of a large fibre area into a common pull. In Hill models it is treated as a series elastic element; its thickness and area govern force distribution and stretch.
Examples
The linea alba — the midline aponeurosis of the abs.