Which tissue connects muscle to bone?

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

Answer: (A)

Muscle force is transmitted to the skeleton through tendons, the dense fibrous connective tissue that links muscle to bone. Tendons are rich in type I collagen and arranged in parallel fibers so they can withstand the pulling forces generated by muscle contractions. They attach to muscle at the myotendinous junction and to bone at the enthesis, efficiently converting muscular tension into skeletal movement.

Ligaments connect bone to bone to stabilize joints, not to transmit muscle force. Cartilage provides a smooth, lubricated surface and cushions joints, but it doesn’t anchor muscle to bone. Bone is the rigid framework of the skeleton, not the connector between muscle and bone.

So the tissue that connects muscle to bone is tendon.