Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Main Difference

The main difference between epithelial tissues and connective tissues is that epithelial tissues are located just below the basement membrane whereas connective tissues are found all over the body.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Epithelial Tissues and Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are the tissue that lines the surfaces of different organs, body cavities, and blood vessels, etc. whereas the tissues that separate, connect and support different body parts are called connective tissue.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are found above the basement membrane while connective tissues are found below the basement membrane.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are made up of cells and a small amount of intercellular matrix that is closely packed in the form of layers, on the other hand, connective tissue are made up a huge amount of intercellular matrix and cells that are scattered in the matrix.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are developed from ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm conversely connective tissues are developed from mesoderm.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Blood capillaries are not found in epithelial tissues on the flip side; capillaries are present in connective tissue.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues gain their nutrition from the cellular membrane because they are not bounded by blood capillaries while connective tissue is bounded by blood capillaries and get their nutrition from them.

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Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are bounded by special proteins, desmosomes, and hemidesmosomes whereas connective tissues are bounded by blood capillaries and materials like elastic or collagen fibers.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues form the covering of the organs helps in transportation, selective absorption, and protection of cells, but connective tissues provide support to tissue and organs, helps in muscles and bone formation and in working of blood and lymph.

Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

Epithelial tissues are found in skin, lungs, kidneys, mucous membranes while connective tissues are found in blood, nerves, ligaments, and tendons.

Comparison Chart

Epithelial TissuesConnective Tissues
The tissues that line the surfaces of different organs, body cavities and blood vessels, etc. are called epithelial tissues.The tissues that separate, connect and support different body parts are called connective tissue.
Composition
It is made up of cells and a small amount of intercellular matrix.It is made up of cells and a huge amount of intercellular matrix
Arrangement of Cells
In epithelial tissue, cells are closely packed in the form of layers.In connective tissues cells are scattered in extracellular matrix.
Development
Epithelial tissues are developed from ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm.Connective tissues are developed from mesoderm.
Blood Capillaries
Blood capillaries are not found in epithelial tissues.Blood capillaries are present in connective tissues.
Nutrition
They gain their nutrition from the cellular membrane because they are not bounded by blood capillaries.They are bounded by blood capillaries and get their nutrition from them.
Bounded by
Epithelial tissues are bounded by special proteins, desmosomes, and hemidesmosomes.Connective tissues are bounded by blood capillaries and materials like elastic or collagen fibers.
Presence
It is found above the basement membrane.It is found below the basement membrane.
Function
Epithelial tissues form the covering of the organs helps in transportation, selective absorption, and protection of cells.Connective tissues provide support to tissue and organs, helps in muscles and bone formation and in working of blood and lymph.
Found in
They are found in skin, lungs, kidneys, mucous membranes.They are found in blood, nerves, ligaments, and tendons.
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Epithelial Tissues vs. Connective Tissues

There are four basic types of tissues that combine to make the whole body of an organism, i.e., Muscles, nervous, epithelial and connective tissues. Epithelial tissues are the tissues that line the surfaces of different organs, body cavities and blood vessels, etc. while connective tissues separate, connect and support different body parts. In epithelial tissue, cells are closely packed in the form of layers while in connective tissues cells are scattered in an extracellular matrix. Epithelial tissues are developed from all the germinal layers, i.e., ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm while connective tissues are developed from mesoderm.

What are Epithelial Tissues?

Epithelial tissues are the tissue that lines the surfaces of different organs, body cavities, and blood vessels, etc. Its free surface is faced towards air or fluid whereas the bottom is attached to the basement membrane. It protects the microorganisms, damage, and dehydration when present in the skin. It is also involved in excretion, secretion and absorption, etc. when present in kidney, glands, and intestine respectively. It is produced by the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm and may be single layer or multilayer. When epithelial tissue is a single layer, it is known as simple epithelium while when it is made up of two or more layer, it is known as the stratified epithelium.

Types

  1. Columnar Epithelium: These are made up of column-like cells like bricks etc.
  2. Squamous Epithelium: These are made up of flattened and scale-like cells.
  3. Cuboidal Epithelium: These are made up of cube shape or disc-like cells.

What are the Connective Tissues?

Connective tissues are the tissues that separate, connect and support different body parts by filling the space between them. It also provides metabolic support to different parts of the body. Connective tissues are made up of a huge amount of intercellular matrix and cells. The extracellular matrix is made up of glycoproteins and fibrous proteins that are attached to the basement membrane and give specific properties to the tissue. Connective tissue plays an important role in insulation, transportation and the formation and organization of nerves, skeleton, blood, and muscles, etc. Different types of connective tissue are fibrous connective tissue, loose connective tissue, adipose tissue, bone, cartilage, and blood.

Conclusion

According to the above discussion, it is concluded that epithelial tissue is the tissues that line the different body parts and provide help in protection, secretion, and excretion, etc. Connective tissues are the tissues that separate, connect and support different body parts and provide help in insulation, transportation and in the formation and organization of nerves, skeleton, blood, and muscles, etc.