Ectocervix,
Cervix, and Vagina -- The cervix is the narrow portion of the
uterus protruding down into the upper vagina. Unlike the endometrium
within the body of the uterus, the mucosa of the cervix is not
sloughed off during the menstrual cycle.
Examine this transversely-sectioned
specimen of the uterine cervix showing the epithelium of the cervix
or ectocervix.
At one end of the section, locate the
narrow slit lined mainly by simple columnar cells. This space is an
endocervical gland. The opposite end of the section is
covered by the stratified squamous epithelium of the ectocervix,
similar to that of the vagina
seen in this slide. Note that most of the
tissue in the uterine cervix is fibrous connective tissue(myometrial
tissue)
with a relatively small amount of smooth muscle.
Compare the cervix
to the vagina in this slide.
Clinical note: The Pap test is
named after the gynecologist George Papanicolaou, M.D., who
introduced this diagnostic procedure in 1928.
Ectocervix,
Cervix, and Vagina -- The cervix is the narrow portion of the
uterus protruding down into the upper vagina. Unlike the endometrium
within the body of the uterus, the mucosa of the cervix is not
sloughed off during the menstrual cycle.
At one end of the section, locate the
narrow slit lined mainly by simple columnar cells. This space is an
endocervical gland. The opposite end of the section is
covered by the stratified squamous epithelium of the ectocervix,
similar to that of the vagina
