A stratified squamous epithelium with a minor degree of keratinization lines the vagina. A thick layer of dense connective tissue, similar to that found in the skin's dermis, lies beneath the epithelium. Following this is a layer of loose connective tissue with numerous blood vessels and nerves. Because they produce and store glycogen, vaginal…[Read more]

The cervix is located at the bottom of the uterus and protects it from bacterial infiltration. It is the location of a critical epithelial transition. The lining of the upper cervix (endocervix) is a simple columnar epithelium that contains mucous-secreting cells. The lower cervix, on the other hand, is lined by a stratified squamous epithelium.…[Read more]

At the end of menstrual flow, the uterine cycle enters the early proliferative phase. The uterine glands are sparse and small during this phase, and the epithelial cells develop microvilli and cilia under the influence of estrogen. The stratum functionalis thickens in the late proliferative phase, and the glands become more coiled and densely…[Read more]