We present a manifestly gauge covariant description of fluctuations of a
relativistic extended object described by the Dirac-Nambu-Goto action with
Dirac-Nambu-Goto loaded edges about a given classical solution. Whereas
physical fluctuations of the bulk lie normal to its worldsheet, those on the
edge possess an additional component directed into the bulk. These fluctuations
couple in a non-trivial way involving the underlying geometrical structures
associated with the worldsheet of the object and of its edge. We illustrate the
formalism using as an example a string with massive point particles attached to
its ends.