Fig. 1. Consequences of the nonlinear stress-strain relationship of tendon for the scaling of tendon strain. Data of Riemersma and Schamhardt (1985) for equine superficial digital flexor tendon. Because the tendon is stiffer at higher stresses, a given increase in stress causes a smaller increase in strain when it occurs at a higher initial stress (compare shaded regions). A consequence of this is that the scaling exponent for strain is lower than the scaling exponent for stress. For example, over the part of the curve within and between the shaded regions, a stress proportional to causes a strain proportional to . Therefore, a nonlinear tendon stress-strain relationship can reduce the effects of size differences on tendon strain.