What are Ligaments and Tendons?
The other day I was involved in a discussion about ligaments and tendons. There seemed to be some doubt about what each one was, and what they did. A ligament is a tough, non-elastic, yet flexible, white fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones together at the joint. Ligaments strengthen the joint and limit its movement to certain directions. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by hyperflexing the wrist causing the carpal tunnel ligament to become inflamed, which causes swelling of the median nerve. The median nerve, in an inflamed and swollen state, fills the tiny tunnel space and rubs on the ligament or the eight small bones that are on the other side of the tunnel. Ligaments in a sheet form known as peritoneum support and hold together abdominal organs. Tendons are parallel bundles of collagen that attach muscles to bones. Tendons are inelastic but flexible. Tendons concentrate the pull of the muscle on a small section of the bone. Some tendons are surrounded by a sheath.
