ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam 2025 - Complete Preparation Guide

Tendons and ligaments are primarily composed of dense connective tissue, which gives them their strength and ability to resist tensile forces. Dense connective tissue is characterized by a high concentration of collagen fibers, which provide structural support and durability. This type of tissue is essential for connecting muscles to bones (tendons) and bones to other bones (ligaments), allowing for stability and facilitating movement in joints.

Smooth muscle is involved in involuntary movements and is not related to the structure of tendons or ligaments. Loose connective tissue serves more as a filler between organs and does not have the same tensile strength required for tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is a different type of connective tissue that provides cushioning in joints but lacks the dense fiber arrangement found in tendons and ligaments.

Therefore, dense connective tissue is the correct classification for the material that composes both tendons and ligaments, which play crucial functional roles in the musculoskeletal system.