Which connective tissue connects muscle to bone?

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

Answer: (A)

The connective tissue that connects muscle to bone is a tendon. Tendons are dense regular connective tissue with collagen fibers aligned in the direction of pull, which allows a contracting muscle to transmit force efficiently to the bone and produce movement at the joint. The muscle-to-tendon junction, where muscle fibers merge into the tendon, is specialized to handle high tensile forces.

Ligaments connect bone to bone to stabilize joints. Cartilage can form joints and provide cushioning or surfaces for articulation, but it does not link muscle to bone. The dermis is a skin layer and not involved in transmitting muscle force to bone.

Because tendons bear the tensile load of muscle contractions and transmit it to bone, they are the structure that enables movement.