Healing of ligaments is similar to healing of which tissue?

• A. Cartilage
• B. Nerves
• C. Tendons
• D. Bone

Answer: (C)

Ligaments and tendons heal through very similar processes because they are both dense regular connective tissues rich in type I collagen produced by fibroblasts. When injured, they pass through the same sequence of healing: an inflammatory phase, a repair phase where collagen is laid down, and a remodeling phase where the fibers reorient along the direction of the tensile load. Their limited blood supply slows healing, so the repair tissue is initially weaker and tends to form a scar that gradually becomes more organized with proper loading. This combination of tissue type, slow but ongoing remodeling, and scar formation is why ligament healing is essentially like tendon healing.

Cartilage, by contrast, is largely avascular and relies on diffusion for nutrients, so its healing is much more limited. Nerves heal by axonal regrowth and neurotrophic support, a process different from connective tissue repair. Bone heals via fracture callus formation and mineralized remodeling, following its own distinct pathway.