Tendons have a traditionally low blood supply that increases dramatically with activity; most nerve endings and autonomic nerve fibres are located in the outer tendon regions.

Tendons have abundant fibrocartilage throughout and are innervated only by Group Ia afferent fibers.

Tendons are devoid of any nerve endings and rely entirely on muscle blood flow for nourishment.

Tendons have extensive blood supply throughout, especially at compression sites, and contain only mechanoreceptors in their inner core.