Which connective tissue provides support and rigidity and makes up the skeleton?

The correct answer is bone, as it serves as the primary connective tissue that provides structural support and rigidity to the skeleton. Bone is composed of a dense matrix of mineralized collagen fibers, which grants it strength and the ability to bear weight. It plays a critical role in protecting vital organs, enabling movement by serving as levers for muscles, storing minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, and housing the bone marrow for blood cell production.

While cartilage is also a type of connective tissue that provides support, it does not offer the same level of rigidity as bone. Cartilage is more flexible and serves as a cushion in joints and certain structures, such as the nose and ears, but it lacks the mineral content that gives bone its hardness. Blood, although classified as a connective tissue, mainly functions in transportation rather than providing structural support. Connective tissue proper encompasses a variety of tissue types (like tendons and ligaments) that support and bind other tissues together, but it does not fulfill the specific role of forming the skeleton. Thus, bone is uniquely suited to this function within the body.