Final answer:
Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues that connect bones, provide joint stability, and limit motion. Cartilage is smooth connective tissue that allows for smooth bone movement at joints. Synovial joints are the most common and have a fluid-filled cavity enabling a wide range of motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skeletal system includes not only the bones but also cartilage and ligaments. Cartilage is a smooth and flexible connective tissue that covers the ends of bones at joints, facilitating smooth movement.
Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones at a joint, provide stability, support, and limit the motion to prevent injury.
There are various types of joints, such as fibrous joints like sutures in the skull, cartilaginous joints like the pubic symphysis, and synovial joints which are most common in the body.
Synovial joints have a cavity filled with lubricating fluid, allowing for a wide range of motion. Tendons, meanwhile, are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones.
Ligaments can be intrinsic, being part of the joint capsule, or extrinsic, found outside of the capsule. They are crucial for maintaining the stability of synovial joints and the overall skeletal system, which is essential for protection, movement, and support.