Bones make the framework for our bodies. But the bones have to be held together by something. That is the job of the ligaments. They are fibrous tissues that are tough and very flexible. They hold a joint together. The diagram shows this in red.

Ligaments are similar to tendons, except that tendons connect muscle to bone

Ligaments do not regrow, and so if they get broken they have to be joined together again using surgery. It is important to repair damaged ligaments or they will not hold the joints together properly, allowing them to slop around and perhaps become dislocated and to suffer from arthritis.

Athletes do stretching exercises to make the ligaments a little longer and so make the joints a little more supple.