Which tissue connects muscle to bone?

• A. Tendon
• B. Ligament
• C. Cartilage
• D. Fascia

Answer: (A)

This question centers on how muscles attach to the skeleton. The tissue that connects muscle to bone is a tendon. Tendons are dense fibrous bands made mainly of collagen that anchor the ends of muscles to bones across joints. When a muscle contracts, the tendon transmits that force to the bone, producing movement.

Understanding the other tissues helps clarify why tendons fit this role. Ligaments connect bone to bone to stabilize joints, not to muscles. Cartilage lines joint surfaces to reduce friction and absorb impact, acting as a cushion. Fascia is a sheet-like connective tissue that surrounds and organizes muscles and other structures; while it can blend with tendinous tissue, its primary job isn’t to connect muscle directly to bone. Tendons also have relatively limited blood supply, which is why tendon injuries can take a long time to heal. A familiar example is the Achilles tendon, which links the calf muscles to the heel bone.