Connecting links to musculoskeletal: tendons & ligaments

The bones, muscles, and connective tissues (such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments) that bind tissues and organs together make up the musculoskeletal system. This system's main functions are to give the body structure and support, as well as to protect essential organs and allow movement. Tendons and ligaments allow locomotion by providing connections between muscle and bone or bone and bone. A common cause of impairment is damage to tendons and ligaments caused by acute or chronic injury, as well as ageing and arthritis. A greater understanding of tendon and ligament development, cell biology, and pathophysiology is required to improve therapeutic options for these disorders. Despite the fact that tendons and ligaments play a distinct and crucial role in musculoskeletal function and disease, research in this field is not as advanced as it is in other skeletal tissues. This is due in part to the fact that the transcription factors required for the creation and maintenance of these tissues were unknown until recently.