The average adult human skeleton has around 206 bones. These bones meet at joints, the most of which are freely movable. The skeleton also contains cartilage for elasticity. Ligaments are strong strips of fibrous connective tissue (sinew) that hold bones together at joints, thereby stabilizing the skeleton during movement. These differ from tendons, which connect muscle to bone. (Ligaments = bone + bone; tendons = muscle + bone) Fused bones include those of the pelvis and the cranium.