The [[1]] supplies the nutrients to the epithelium tissue.

The connective tissue supplies the nutrients to the epithelial tissue.

The epithelial cells are tightly packed into one or more layers and are held together by a variety of intercellular junctions. While the upper layer is free, the deepest layer lies on a basement membrane. This membrane demarcates the epithelial tissue from the underlying connective tissue. Epithelial tissue is avascular but innervated. Nutrients are supplied by diffusion from the blood vessels of the lamina propria, a layer of connective tissue.