Tendons are long cords, of a substance similar in its nature to cartilage, by which the muscles are attached to the bones.
Fig. 56.—SHOWING A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH LIGAMENTS ARE EMPLOYED TO HOLD BONES IN THEIR POSITIONS.
A. The ball, or head of the thigh bone.
B. The socket, showing the ligament in the socket, which holds the head of the bone in its place, but allows it free motion.
C. Ligaments tied from bone to bone, giving firmness to the parts.
940. Why are tendons used to attach the muscles to the bones?
Because, by this arrangement, the large muscles by which the extremities are moved, may be placed at some distance from the bones upon which they act, and thus the extremities, instead of being large and clumsy, are small and neat.