OET Medical Vocabulary, Word of the Day
Calcaneal Tendon (Achilles Tendon) – Meaning and Usage in Medical English
Nov
👁 What Does “Calcaneal Tendon” Mean?
The calcaneal tendon is the Achilles tendon: the thick cord at the back of the ankle that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It transmits the force of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (heel bone), letting you push off when walking, running and jumping.
Calcaneal comes from Latin calcaneum, “heel”. The name Achilles tendon refers to the Greek hero whose only vulnerable spot was his heel. Both names are used in clinical writing; Achilles tendon is more common in English-speaking practice.
🔍 Clinical Usage
The tendon appears in orthopedic, sports medicine, emergency and rheumatology notes:
- Achilles tendinopathy — pain and thickening a few centimetres above the heel, common in runners
- Achilles tendon rupture — a sudden snap, often with a palpable gap and a positive Thompson test (squeezing the calf does not move the foot)
- insertional tendinopathy and retrocalcaneal bursitis at the heel
- ankle reflex (Achilles reflex), tested by tapping the tendon with a hammer
Common collocations include:
- Achilles tendon rupture
- thickening of the Achilles tendon
- palpable gap in the tendon
- tenderness 4 cm above the calcaneal insertion
Here’s a natural clinical example:
“Palpable gap in the left Achilles tendon 5 cm above its insertion; Thompson test positive. Complete rupture suspected.”
→ Meaning: There is a dip you can feel in the tendon above the heel, squeezing the calf does not move the foot, and the tendon has probably torn completely.
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🗣 Pronunciation
kal-KAY-nee-ul TEN-dun — the stress in calcaneal is on the second syllable. Achilles is uh-KIL-eez.
💡 OET Tip
Most patients know the phrase Achilles tendon, so you can use it in the role-play without translating. In a letter, either name is correct; what matters is the detail: how far above the heel, whether there is a gap, and whether the patient can stand on tiptoe.
🔗 Related Words
Browse every term in our Medical English Body Parts A–Z guide.
For the clinical words you will meet in the OET, with what to say to patients, see our OET Vocabulary guide.
