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The cervical canal is generally lined by "endocervical mucosa" which consists of a single layer of mucinous columnar epithelium. However, after menopause, the functional squamocolumnar junction moves into the cervical canal, and hence the distal part of the cervical canal may be lined by stratified squamous epithelium (conforming to a "type 3 transformation zone").
The mucosa lining the cervical canal is known as the endocervix, [5] and the mucosa covering the ectocervix is known as the exocervix. [6] The cervix has an inner mucosal layer, a thick layer of smooth muscle , and posteriorly the supravaginal portion has a serosal covering consisting of connective tissue and overlying peritoneum .
In regard to the cervix, squamous metaplasia can sometimes be found in the endocervix, as it is composed of simple columnar epithelium, whereas the ectocervix is composed of stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. [2]
In this diagram, the canal of the cervix (or endocervix) is circled at the base of the womb. The vaginal portion of the cervix projects free into the vagina. The transformation zone, at the opening of the cervix into the vagina, is the area where most abnormal cell changes occur
The squamocolumnar junction, where the columnar secretory epithelium of the endocervical canal meets the stratified squamous covering of the ectocervix, is located at the external os before puberty. As estrogen levels rise during puberty, the cervical os opens, exposing the endocervical columnar epithelium onto the ectocervix. This area of ...
Triple smear, also known as vaginal-cervical-endocervical (VCE) smear is a cytopathology technique for identifying lesions of the female genital tract. The smear is prepared on separate areas of a single slide with three distinct samples, each from ectocervix, vagina and endocervix. [1]
Endocervical curettage is a medical procedure used to extract cells of the endocervix to visualize under a microscope. Direct cervical visualization, colposcopy, and even endocervical colposcopy are not enough to fully analyze all areas of the endocervical epithelium and thus endocervical curettage is the method of choice in cases where this is necessary.
The cervix is divided into two parts based on the types of cells. The outer portion of the cervix is called the ectocervix, while the inner portion of the cervix is the endocervix. These two portions of the cervix have different types of cells. The area where the endocervix and ectocervix meet is known as the transformation zone.