The musculoskeletal system includes numerous types of tissues of diverse composition and structure, including bone, cartilage, synovium, tendon, ligament and skeletal muscle tissues. Disorders of the musculoskeletal tissues often result in pain, deformity, and/or malfunctions of joints, and are more likely to interfere with the quality than the quantity of life. Tissue engineering with its endpoint of reconstruction of the composition and structure of tissues offers the promise of a more complete and longer-lasting restoration of musculoskeletal function. The objective of this chapter is to compare and contrast the many tissues comprising the musculoskeletal system with an emphasis on those features impacting tissue engineering.