Final answer:
Tendons and ligaments take longer to heal than bones due to their poorer blood supply, which slows down the healing process by delivering fewer nutrients and oxygen to the injured area.
Step-by-step explanation:
The healing time for tendons and ligaments is often longer than for bone fractures due to several biological factors. Tendons and ligaments have a relatively poor blood supply compared to bones, which is a crucial factor in the healing process. Bones have a rich blood supply, which brings necessary nutrients and cells for repair, allowing fractures to heal more efficiently. Tendon and ligament injuries, such as tendinitis and sprains, involve damage to connective tissue which not only has limited blood flow but is also often subjected to repetitive motion causing microtrauma leading to inflammation and slow healing. When these tissues are injured, the reduced blood flow means less oxygen and fewer nutrients are delivered to the injury site, which slows down the repair process.