Ligaments
Ligaments, are tough fibrous bands of connective tissue that serves to connect bones to bones. A ligament is composed of dense fibrous bundles of collagenous fibres and spindle-shaped cells known as fibrocytes, with little ground substance (a gel-like component of the various connective tissues).
Ligaments may be of two major types:
- White ligament is rich in collagenous fibres, which are sturdy and inelastic
- Yellow ligament is rich in elastic fibres, which are quite tough even though they allow elastic movement
Tendons
A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue which attaches muscle to bone. Tendons are the connective tissues that transmit the mechanical force of muscle contraction to the bones; the tendon is firmly connected to muscle fibres at one end and to components of the bone at its other end. Tendons may also attach muscles to structures such as the eyeball.