What is the primary role of ligaments in the human body?

Ligaments play a crucial role in the human body's structure and function by connecting bones to other bones at joints. This connection is essential for maintaining joint stability and integrity during movement. Ligaments are made of dense connective tissue, which allows them to withstand the forces and stresses that occur during physical activities. By providing this support, ligaments help facilitate movement while also preventing excessive motion that could lead to injuries, such as dislocations or sprains.

In contrast, muscles are attached to bones via tendons, not ligaments, which makes the option regarding muscle attachment to bones incorrect. The option about providing structural support within the heart misattributes the function of ligaments, as this function is more related to cardiac structures like valves and muscle fibers. Lastly, while the body has mechanisms to protect organs, this is typically the role of other structures such as the ribcage or abdominal muscles—not ligaments, making that option also not applicable. Therefore, the primary role of ligaments is accurately reflected in the choice that highlights their connection between bones.