What is the primary difference between ligaments and tendons?

• A. Ligaments connect bone to bone and stabilize joints; tendons connect muscle to bone and enable movement
• B. Ligaments are muscular structures; tendons are bone
• C. Tendons connect bone to bone; ligaments connect muscle to bone
• D. Ligaments store energy; tendons provide blood supply

Answer: (A)

Ligaments and tendons have distinct jobs in how we move and stay stable. Ligaments stabilize joints by connecting bone to bone, which helps hold joints together and limit excessive motion. Tendons, on the other hand, connect muscles to bones and transmit the force of muscle contraction to the skeleton, producing movement. For example, knee ligaments like the ACL help keep the joint stable, while the Achilles tendon carries the calf muscles’ force to the heel to enable walking and running. The other statements don’t fit because ligaments are not muscular structures, and tendons do not connect bone to bone. The idea that these tissues primarily store energy or provide blood supply isn’t correct—their main roles are stability (ligaments) and movement (tendons).