How do tendons differ from ligaments?

While both tendons and ligaments are types of dense fibrous connective tissue composed primarily of parallel bundles of collagen, they serve distinct anatomical functions.12

• Function: The primary difference lies in what they connect. Tendons attach muscles to bones, transmitting the mechanical force of muscle contraction to facilitate movement. In contrast, ligaments connect bone to bone at a joint, serving to stabilize the joint and guide its motion by limiting excessive or improper movement.134
• Structure: While both are strong, tendons possess some of the highest tensile strengths among soft tissues to withstand the stresses of muscular contraction. Ligaments are also tough and fibrous, but their composition can vary; some are rich in collagenous fibers for stability, while others contain more elastic fibers to allow for specific types of movement or to help structures, such as the spinal column, return to their normal shape.145

Both tissues rely on specialized cells—fibroblasts and fibrocytes—to maintain their matrix.341