Birds have very airy bones, large animals have very dense bone. Cartilage is a flexible, smooth supporting tissue, and the main component of the nose and ears, as well as joining the ribs to the breastbone. The tissues which bind bones to other bones at joints are called ligaments, the tissues which bind muscles to bones are called tendons. Bone heals faster than ligaments and tendons, and is stronger after a break than before. Ligaments and tendons heal more slowly, and usually aren't as strong after being severely stretched or torn as they were before.
Tendons are easy to see on the underside of the wrist, and on the back of the hand.
Smooth muscle can remain contracted for extended periods of time, but the speed of contraction is rather slow. The muscles of the intestines and arteries are smooth muscle. Smooth muscle contraction is largely involuntary, that is, such muscles cannot be consciously willed to contract. Cardiac is the second type of human muscle. It does need a lot of oxygen.