a-short-review-of-histology

Ligament - Bone Connections:

The connections between ligament and bone are essentially the same as between tendon and bone
During early development, the presumptive connective tissue of the ligament is associated with the connective tissue which is destined to differentiate into cartilage/bone
The deposition of cartilage/bone matrix around the collagen fibres of the presumptive tendon created an anchorage for the ligament
As bones grow and increase in size, more and more of the ligament becomes incorporated into the bone matrix
This provides an increasingly firm anchorage as the individual increase in size and the tensions on the attachment sites increases
The ligament collagen fibres that are incorporated into bone matrix are known as Sharpey's fibres

Diagram of Sharpey's Fibres:

Sharpey's fibres extending into compact bone as a direct continuation of the periosteum

Micrographs of Sharpey's Fibres:

Shows the direct attachment of skeletal muscle M to bone B. P = periosteum, S = Sharpey's fibres