Connective tissues are tissues that support, connect, or separate different types of tissues and organs in the body. Ligaments connect bone to bone, tendons connect muscle to bone, and cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in joints, ear, nose, etc. All three (Ligament, Tendon, Cartilage) are types of connective tissue. Smooth muscle, however, is a type of muscle tissue, specialized for contraction, and is distinct from connective tissue.