WebMD
Font Size

Achilles Tendon

A tendon attaches muscle to bone. The Achilles tendon, also called the heel cord, attaches the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus); it is the largest tendon in the body and withstands a large amount of weight with each foot movement.

The Achilles tendon allows the foot to point downward and enables a person to stand on his or her toes.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerBarry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery
Last RevisedJuly 13, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 13, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.