Answer
There is usually a layer of connective tissue directly beneath epithelial tissue. This close relationship between epithelium and connective tissue serves two important purposes. First, the connective tissue anchors the epithelial tissue. Second, and more important is the fact that the connective tissue supplies nourishment to the epithelial tissue.
Work Step by Step
Epithelial usually presents as a closely packed avascular aggregation of cells. Like all other tissues epithelium needs to have access to nutrients, and it needs to get rid of metabolic waste and toxic substances. Unlike epithelium, connective tissue has relatively few cells, but a rich network of blood vessels. This enables the connective tissue to bring nutrients into remove metabolic wastes and toxic substance overlying avascular epithelial layers.
