Tendons consist of parallel bundles of collagen fibers that provide great tensile strength to anchor muscles to bones. Ligaments contain bundles of elastic fibers and some collagen, making them more flexible than tendons but offering less strength to hold bones together. Fibroblasts secrete the fibers and ground substance of connective tissue and are called fibrocytes when not actively engaged in synthesis. The poor blood supply to tendons and ligaments affects their behavior in the body.

1. Dense (Regular) Connective Tissue

2. Fibrous Connective Tissue

4. Tendons These consist of bundles of collagenous fibers arranged in parallel . They are arranged this way to form cords which have great tensile strength. Tendons function to anchor or bind muscles to bones .

5. This slide demonstrates the arrangement of the collagen fibers in Tendon. The yellow lines show the parallel bundles of collagen in a regular pattern.

9. Ligaments These consist mostly of bundles of elastin molecules formed into elastic fibers with some bundles of collagen. Ligaments are therefore more elastic and flexible than tendons but offer less tensile strength. Ligaments function to hold or bind bone to bone .

10. Fibroblasts

13. Fibroblasts - This most common and characteristic C. T. cell type secretes the fibers and ground substance of connective tissue. When not actively engaged in synthesis, these cells may be called fibrocytes . One final note, the blood supply to tendons and ligaments is quite poor. How does this affect their behaviour in the body?

14. Dense (Regular) Connective Tissue Fibrous connective tissue Tendons Ligaments Rigid Connective Tissue Cartilage Hyaline Elastic Fibrous Bone Compact Spongy