The cervix Flashcards
What is the cervix?
What are the two regions of the cervix?
The lower portion of the uterus acting as a gateway between the vagina and the uterus.
Ectocervix- external os, stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
Endocervix- inner cervix, internal os, mucus secreting simple columnar epithelium
What are the functions of the cervix?
Facilitates passage of sperm
Maintains sterility
Maintains pregnancy while staying completely shut
What is the arterail supply of the cervix?
What is the venous drainage of the cervix?
What is the lymphatic drainage of the cervix
Uterine artery
Uterine veins
iliac, sacral, aortic and inguinal
What is cervicitis
Chronic inflammation and infection of the cervix, mostly caused by neisseria gonorrhoeae
Typically asymptomatic although pelvic pain, vaginal discharge psotcoital bleeding and dysparunia may be present
What is Cervical cancer?
Most common cancer of reproductive tract
Squamous cell carcinoma- epithelial lining of ectocervix
Adenocarcinoma- Cancer of glands of the cervix
HPV is the major cause of it
