Basis of differentiation

Connective tissue

Epithelial tissue

Definition

Is tissue that connects, binds, supports, or separates other tissues or organs 

Is the tissue which lines the internal and external surfaces of body cavities and organs

Vascularity

Vascularized

Avascular

Origin

Originates from the mesoderm

Originates from the ectoderm

Basement membrane

No basement membrane is present in connective tissue

The innermost layers of cells are bound on a basement membrane

Function

Connective tissue support organs and cells, transports nutrients, stores fats, projects against pathogens, and repairs damaged tissues

Assists in the secretion, excretion, adsorption, protection, diffusion, sensory reception, and filtration of cells

Arrangement

Cells in connective tissue are scattered throughout the matrix

The cells are assembled in single layer or muli-layer  sheets 

Nutrition

Nutrition in connective is obtained via the blood in blood vessels

These cells obtain nutrition  through diffusion

Abundance

Connective tissue is the most abundant tissue in the body

Epithelial tissue is less abundant than connective tissue