Fibrous tissue that connects the joint ends of bone or cartilage, serving to support and strengthen joints is called what?

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

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is identifying the structure that stabilizes joints by linking bones together. Ligaments are fibrous bands that connect bone to bone (and sometimes bone to cartilage) across a joint, providing stability, guiding motion, and limiting movements that could injure the joint. That description matches the given statement about connecting joint ends to support and strengthen the joint.

Tendons, in contrast, attach muscles to bones and are involved in moving the joint rather than stabilizing it. Cartilage lines joint surfaces to cushion them and reduce friction, not to connect bones for stability. Bursa are small fluid-filled sacs that decrease friction between moving parts around a joint, not stabilizing the joint itself.

So the tissue described is ligaments, which explains why this is the correct choice.