What connects muscles to bones?

Tendons are the structures that connect muscles to bones, facilitating movement by transmitting the force created by muscle contractions to the skeletal system. They are composed of dense connective tissue, which is designed to withstand the tension generated by muscles. When a muscle contracts, the tendon pulls on the bone, resulting in movement of that bone around a joint. This connection is crucial for the mechanics of muscular movements and overall locomotion.

In contrast, cartilage serves as a smooth surface for joints, reducing friction and acting as a cushion, but it does not connect muscles to bones. Ligaments connect bones to other bones at joints and provide stability to the skeletal system, while fascia is a type of connective tissue that surrounds muscles and other structures, helping support and compartmentalize them, but it does not connect muscles directly to bones.