Vaginal Cytology: Cell Types

Question 1

What type of cell is this?

1. Next to basement membrane
2. Precursor to all vaginal epithelial cells
3. Uniform, small, round, basophilic cells, little cytoplasm
4. Rarely seen on smears made at any stage of the estrous cycle
5. Most immature cells

Answer 1

Basal Cells

Question 2

What type of cell is this?

1. Smallest epithelial cells seen in routine smears
2. Large, round nucleus, uniform in size
3. Seen in low numbers, only in diestrus, early proestrus, and anestrus
4. Quiet times of estrous

Answer 2

Parabasal Cells

Question 3

What type of cell is this?

1. Large amounts cytoplasm in relation to nucleus
2. Approximately twice the size of parabasal cells
3. sometimes referred to as non-cornified cells

Answer 3

Intermediate Cells

Question 4

What type of cell is this?

1. These are the largest cells seen
2. Nuclei
   - If present are faded or pyknotic, and cell borders are angular and folded
   - Lots of cytoplasm
3. Also known as cornified

Answer 4

Superficial Cells

Question 5

What type of cell is this?

1. Associated with early proestrus
2. Not considered to be a reliable indicator of stage of estrus

Answer 5

RBC

Question 6

What type of cell is this?

1. are parabasal cells that contain a neutrophil in the cytoplasm and can be seen whenever neutrophils are present

Answer 6

Metestrum Cells

Question 7

What type of cell is this?

1. Are parabasal cells that contain cytoplasmic vacuoles of unknown significance

Answer 7

Foam Cells