A ligament is a band of tough, fibrous tissue that joins bone to bone at a joint.

A tendon is a tough, inelastic cord of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.

What is the role of a tendon when a muscle contracts?

A tendon passes the pulling force of the muscle on to the bone. The bone then moves at the joint.

How do ligaments and tendons differ in elasticity?

Ligaments are slightly elastic, which lets a joint move while staying stable. Tendons are inelastic, so all the muscle's pull reaches the bone.

Which tendon joins the gastrocnemius to the heel, and why does it matter to a sprinter?

The Achilles tendon joins the gastrocnemius to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon carries the force that points the foot as the sprinter drives off.

Edexcel GCSE Physical Education 1PE0

Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Topic overview Functions and classification of bones Bones of the skeleton and the vertebral column Joints and the movements they allow Ligaments, tendons and muscle types Voluntary muscles and antagonistic pairs Fast and slow twitch muscle fibres The heart, circulation and blood Blood vessels and vascular shunting Breathing, lung volumes and gas exchange Aerobic and anaerobic energy release Short-term effects of exercise

Movement Analysis

Topic overview First, second and third class levers Mechanical advantage and disadvantage Planes and axes of movement

Physical Training

Topic overview Health, fitness, exercise and performance Components of fitness The purpose and value of fitness testing Fitness tests and normative data Principles of training Training methods and fitness classes Long-term effects of training PARQ, sports injuries and RICE Performance-enhancing drugs Warm up and cool down

Use of Data

Topic overview Collecting and presenting data Interpreting data and normative comparisons

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing

Topic overview Physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing Personal exercise programmes and lifestyle choices A sedentary lifestyle and its consequences A balanced diet and the macronutrients Micronutrients, water, fibre and hydration Optimum weight and energy balance

Sport Psychology

Topic overview Classification of skills Practice structures Goal setting and SMART targets Types of guidance Types of feedback Mental preparation for performance

Socio-Cultural Influences

Topic overview Participation rates and personal factors Commercialisation and the media Advantages and disadvantages of commercialisation Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance

Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Ligaments, tendons and muscle types

3 things to know
Component 1

Overview

Ligaments and tendons and their roles, voluntary, involuntary and cardiac muscle, and how the skeletal and muscular systems work together.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is a ligament?

Key term

What is the role of ligaments during physical activity?

Key term

What is a tendon?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is a ligament?
Model answer
A ligament is a band of tough, fibrous tissue that joins bone to bone at a joint.
2
What is the role of ligaments during physical activity?
Model answer
Ligaments hold a joint together and keep it stable. Ligaments limit excessive movement, which reduces the risk of dislocation.
3
What is a tendon?
Model answer
A tendon is a tough, inelastic cord of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
4
What is the role of a tendon when a muscle contracts?
Model answer
A tendon passes the pulling force of the muscle on to the bone. The bone then moves at the joint.
5
How do ligaments and tendons differ in elasticity?
Model answer
Ligaments are slightly elastic, which lets a joint move while staying stable. Tendons are inelastic, so all the muscle's pull reaches the bone.
6
Which tendon joins the gastrocnemius to the heel, and why does it matter to a sprinter?
Model answer
The Achilles tendon joins the gastrocnemius to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon carries the force that points the foot as the sprinter drives off.

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Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Movement Analysis

Physical Training

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Most veins carry blood.

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Sprain means a stretched or torn ligament at a joint.

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