What are fibrous bands that connect adjacent bones called?

Fibrous bands that connect adjacent bones are known as ligaments. These structures are crucial for stability and support in the skeletal system, as they help to hold bones together at joints and limit excessive movement that could lead to injuries. Ligaments are made of dense connective tissue, which gives them strength and enables them to withstand the forces exerted during physical activity.

Tendons, while also made of strong connective tissue, serve a different function by connecting muscles to bones, facilitating movement rather than providing structural support between bones. Cartilage is a flexible tissue that provides cushioning at joints and between bones but does not connect them in the manner that ligaments do. Joints refer to the points of union between two or more bones but do not describe the fibrous connective tissue that holds them together. Therefore, ligaments are specifically defined as the connective tissues responsible for binding adjacent bones, making them the correct answer in this context.