Final answer:
The connective tissue that fastens muscles to bones is the tendon, composed of dense connective tissue with aligned collagen fibers. Ligaments, also dense connective tissue, connect bones to one another at joints. Cartilage provides smooth surfaces at joints but does not connect muscles to bones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of connective tissue that fastens muscle to bone is a tendon. Tendons are made up of dense connective tissue with collagen fibers aligned in parallel, making them particularly strong and capable of transmitting the force generated by muscle contractions to bones, thus facilitating movement. On the other hand, ligaments connect bones together and also consist of dense connective tissue that can withstand significant stress. Unlike tendons, ligaments do not attach muscles to bones but rather serve to hold the bones in a joint together.
Cartilage, another type of dense connective tissue, is made up of chondrocytes and is smooth and flexible. Cartilage covers the ends of bones at joints, providing a smooth surface for the bones to move over. Fascia is a band or sheet of connective tissue that encases muscles and other organs, and is not directly involved in connecting muscles to bones.