What does the sesamoid term mean?

Question

it's often used to refer human little bones, but what does the term refer to?

Answer 1

In anatomy, a sesamoid bone is a bone embedded within a tendon.Sesamoid bones are typically found in locations where a tendon passes over a joint. Functionally, they act to protect the tendon and to increase its mechanical effect. The presence of the sesamoid bone holds the tendon slightly further away from the center of the joint and thus increases its moment arm. The sesamoid prevents the tendon from flattening into the joint as the tendon tension increases, and therefore also maintains a more consistent moment arm through a variety of possible tendon loads.

Answer 2

It means "shaped like a sesame seed". Literally.
Most sesamoid bones are shaped that way - the best example (and largest) is your kneecap.

Answer 3

The rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

Answer 4

it's a bone embedded with a tendon.

which sounds like it bloody hurts.