The main difference between a tendon and a ligament is what they connect. Tendons connect muscles to bones, allowing for movement, while ligaments connect bones to bones, providing stability and support to joints.
Here's a breakdown of their key characteristics:
Tendons:
- Function: Connect muscles to bones, enabling movement
- Location: Found at the ends of muscles
- Composition: Primarily composed of collagen fibers arranged in parallel bundles
- Example: Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone
Ligaments:
- Function: Connect bones to bones, providing joint stability and support
- Location: Found around joints
- Composition: Made up of dense, fibrous connective tissue, containing more elastin than tendons
- Example: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, which prevents the tibia from sliding forward.
Both tendons and ligaments can be injured through overstretching or tearing, leading to pain, swelling, and instability.
