Bone meets tendon: 3D-printed structures mimic body’s compact link between stiff and flexible tissues

Bone meets tendon: 3D-printed structures mimic body’s compact link between stiff and flexible tissues

Nature has spent millions of years optimizing the connection between bone and tendon. Over a very short distance, the body transitions from stiff bone to flexible tendon while maintaining strength and durability. Reproducing such a gradual yet robust transition has proven challenging for engineers.