Which tissue type has many fibers but few cells and includes tendons and ligaments, providing support?

• A. Specialized Connective Tissue
• B. Loose Connective Tissue
• C. Dense Connective Tissue
• D. Connective Tissue Proper

Answer: (C)

The main idea is a tissue built with a dense network of collagen fibers and relatively few cells, giving high tensile strength. Dense connective tissue fits this description. It’s a form of connective tissue proper where fibers dominate the matrix, so there are many fibers but only a handful of fibroblasts weaving between them. This arrangement is ideal for resisting pulling forces, which is exactly what tendons and ligaments do—tendons transmit muscle force to bone, and ligaments stabilize joints. The parallel alignment of fibers in dense regular connective tissue provides strength in a specific direction, matching the functional needs of tendons and ligaments. By contrast, loose connective tissue has more space and ground substance with fewer fibers, offering cushioning and flexibility rather than strong load-bearing. Specialized connective tissues like bone or cartilage are treated as distinct categories with different matrices. So the tissue described is dense connective tissue, especially the dense regular type found in tendons and ligaments.