Question

Which of the following acts as a shock absorber to cushion the tibia and the femur where they come together?
(A) Cartilage
(B) Ligament
(C) Tendon
(D) Disc

Answer 1

Hint: It is the connective tissue which is smooth, rubbery, blue-white. It is a tissue that provides a flexible support to some structure.

Complete answer: Shock is a medical issue where the body's organs and tissues do not get enough blood supply. This deprives oxygen (carried in the blood) to the organs and tissues and causes waste products to build up. Muscles withstand shock, because normally they operate in pairs to move our joints. They will slow down a joint movement in the opposite direction by contracting out.

Now lets us find the solution from the given options-
1. Cartilage is a strong connective tissue forming a pad at the end of long bones like the femur, tibia and humerus. Cartilage serves as a shock absorber to cushion one another's weight and to provide protection against friction due to joint movement.
2. A ligament is a connective fibrous tissue that binds the bones to other bones. They are elastic, with insufficient supply of blood. It appears as the bands of crisscross. They consist of dense fibers of collagen, arranged in parallel bundles.
3. A tendon is a strong band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone and can withstand tension.
4. The vertebral disc is an important and special organ in the spine. There are three primary functions of the discs in the spine: they serve as shock absorbers throughout the spine, located between each bony vertebra.

Thus, the right answer is option A i.e., Cartilage

Note: The meniscus serves as a cushion and shock absorber between the femur and the tibia. It is the curved fibrous cartilage present in some joints like the knee.