Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Tough elastic tissues found in the joints that connect bones are known as what?

1. Tendons

2. Cartilage

3. Ligaments

4. Muscles

The correct answer is: Ligaments

The correct answer refers to the structures known as ligaments, which are indeed tough, elastic tissues found in the joints that serve to connect bones to one another. Ligaments play a crucial role in stabilizing joints by providing support and helping to prevent excessive movement that could lead to injury. Unlike tendons, which connect muscles to bones and enable movement, ligaments are specifically designed to connect two bones at a joint. Cartilage, while also present in joints, serves a different purpose; it acts as a cushioning material that reduces friction between the bones during movement, rather than connecting them. Muscles, on the other hand, are responsible for initiating movement through contraction and are not involved in connecting bones directly. This distinction highlights the unique function that ligaments fulfill in maintaining stability and integrity within the skeletal system.