| • This shows a typical endocervical cleft lined by tall columnar cells.
• The cells contain mucin.
• This structure is not a true gland but is in continuity with the surface epithelium. |
| • This shows a typical endocervical cleft lined by tall columnar cells.
• The cells contain mucin.
• This structure is not a true gland but is in continuity with the surface epithelium. |
| Normal Cervix |
| Etiology |
• Not applicable. |
| Pathogenesis |
• Not applicable. |
| Epidemiology |
• Not applicable. |
| Clinical |
• Not applicable. |
| General Gross Description |
• Endocervical canal measures approximately 3.0 cms in length • Endocervical canal lined by deep longitudinal folds and abundant mucus • Internal cervical os is not clear cut as the endometrial-endocervical junction is not sharp • Somewhere near the end of the endocervical canal is the squamocolumnar junction • Squamocolumnar junction is visualized by pink endocervical epithelium meeting grey squamous mucosa • Supplied by uterine arteries; drain to pelvic lymph nodes |
| General Micro Description |
• Endocervix is lined by a single layer of mucin-secreting cells with small often basilar nuclei and mucin filled cytoplasm. • Also may see ciliated cells and subcolumnar reserve cells. • Neuroendocrine cells can be detected with immunohistochemical staining.
• Despite the appearance of glands and the use of the term endocervical glands the epithelium is
simply deeply clefted. • Exocervix covered by stratified squamous non-keratinizing epithelium. (See Pap smear normals and squamous metaplasia for more details). |
| Reference |
• Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 1024-1035.
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