What Are Tendons & Ligaments Made Of?
The human body's structure and movement are possible because of bones and muscles that are arranged for specific functions. The stability and precision of the musculoskeletal system come from specialized connective tissues called tendons, ligaments and fascia.
Fibrous Connective Tissue
There are many connective tissues in the body. The type usually referred to is "fibrous" connective tissue. Fibrous tissue is known for its tensile strength and is made up primarily of collagen fibers with minimal elasticity.
Tendons
Tendons are bands of fibrous connective tissue that attach muscle tissue to bones. Tendons and muscles work together in order to move the body. Although a small amount, tendons do have some elasticity to assist with injury prevention.
Ligaments
Ligaments are bands of fibrous connective tissue that attach bones to other bones. They provide stability to the bones and joints of the body. Since they do not attach to muscle, they don't contribute to movement and they have less elasticity than tendons.
Fascia
Fascia is fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle tissue. Fascia runs the length of most muscles for stability within the muscle and also forms wide bands called aponeuroses to assist in structure and stability. Examples of aponeuroses include the lower back and IT band.
Connective Tissue Damage
Due to the collagenous makeup of fibrous connective tissue, it contains no living cells and does not have a direct blood supply. This makes the healing process difficult and long as the body regenerates the tissue at a very slow pace. In many connective tissue injury cases, surgical reattachment is required.
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