What typical result can occur from excessive tensile stress on ligaments?

Excessive tensile stress on ligaments commonly leads to sprains. Ligaments are fibrous tissues that connect bones to one another and stabilize joints. When they are subjected to forces that exceed their capacity to stretch, they can undergo tears or sprains. A sprain specifically refers to an injury to the ligament itself, characterized by overstretching or tearing of the ligament fibers.

This type of injury typically occurs in scenarios where there is a sudden twist or impact, causing the ligaments to be pulled beyond their physiological limits. The signs of a sprain can include pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected joint, depending on the severity of the injury.

Other options describe different outcomes that are not directly tied to the effects of tensile stress on ligaments. For example, increased elasticity refers to the ability of tissues to stretch, which is less likely when they are subjected to excessive stress. Fractures are breaks in bones, and while they can occur due to severe force, they are not an outcome of direct stress on ligaments. Muscle strains involve injury to muscle fibers rather than ligaments, making sprains the most appropriate answer in the context of excessive tensile stress on ligaments.