A tendon and a ligament are
both bands of dense connective tissue, but they differ in what
they connect and their primary functions:
Tendon
Connects: Muscle to bone
Function: Transmits the force generated by
a contracting muscle to move the skeleton
Example: The Achilles tendon attaches calf
muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the calcaneus (heel
bone)
Ligament
Connects: Bone to bone (or bone to
cartilage)
Function: Stabilizes and supports joints by
limiting excessive movement
Example: The anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) connects the femur to the tibia within the knee,
preventing forward displacement of the tibia
Key distinctions:
Role in movement: Tendons actively transmit
muscle forces; ligaments passively restrain joint motion.
Tissue properties: Both are strong and
fibrous, but tendons tend to be slightly more elastic to absorb
the shock of muscle contractions, whereas ligaments have more
collagen cross‑links to resist stretching and maintain joint
stability.