Menstrual Cycle - Histology
Introduction
This page presents images from vaginal smears and uterine endometrium dilatation and curettage[1] samples during different phases of the human menstrual cycle.
| Histology Links: stains | fixatives | artifacts | menstrual histology | placenta histology | heart histology | liver histology | Pancreas | Gall Bladder | Colon | Renal | Respiratory Histology | Bone | Category:Histology | UNSW Histology |
| Historic Histology Textbooks: 1941 Histology] | 1944 Oral Histology |
| Phase | Days (range) | Smear | Smear Description | Uterine Endometrium (D&C) |
| Menstrual | 1 - 4 | Click on image to see full size. | Both stratum corneum (red) and stratum spinosum (blue) epithelial cells will mostly blood.
Leukocytes and bacteria may also be present. |
|
| Early Proliferative | 5 - 9 | 
|
Mainly large and small basophilic (blue) stratum spinosum cells. | |
| Mid Proliferative | 9 - 13 | 
|
Stratum spinosum (blue) increase in size.
Dark precipate outside cells are bacteria. |
|
| Late Proliferative, Ovulatory | 13-14 | 
|
mainly stratum corneum (red) which are large and flat.
Appear due to high estrogen levels. |
|
| Secretory | 15 - 22 | 
|
stratum spinosum cells (blue) which are folded or with curled edges.
Appear immediately after ovulation due to increase in progesterone. Leukocytes (small black cells) becoming more numerous. |
|
| Late Secretory, (Ischemic) Premenstrual | 23 - 28 | 
|
stratum spinosum cells (blue) mainly with a few stratum corneum cells (red).
Clustering of cells occurs at this stage. Both leukocytes and bacteria are prevelant. |
|
Human vaginal smear histology images in sequence: early proliferative | mid-proliferative | late proliferative | secretory | late secretory
Human Uterus (D and C histology images) in sequence: menstrual | mid-proliferative | late proliferative | secretory | late secretory
See also Uterus Development
Uterine body endometrium and myometrium during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle overview
Uterine body endometrium during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle
Uterine body endometrium during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle overview
Uterine body endometrium during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle
Abnormalities
Bacterial Vaginosis
- The normal vaginal flora (lactobacillus morphotypes) is replaced by a mixed microbial flora consisting of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis and anaerobes.
- Originally described by Gardner and Dukes (1955).[2]
- clinical features - malodorous, thin homogeneous vaginal discharge with elevated vaginal pH above 4.5.
L. crispatus
L. crispatus
non-L. crispatus with thin lactobacilli
non-L. crispatus with thin lactobacilli
mixture non-L. crispatus with L. crispatus
mixture non-L. crispatus with L. crispatus
irregular-shaped Gram positive rod
irregular-shaped Gram positive rod
mixture Lactobacillus and bacterial vaginosis-associated
mixture Lactobacillus and bacterial vaginosis-associated
bacterial vaginosis
bacterial vaginosis
- Smear Image Links: L. crispatus | L. crispatus | non-L. crispatus with thin lactobacilli | non-L. crispatus with thin lactobacilli | mixture non-L. crispatus with L. crispatus | mixture non-L. crispatus with L. crispatus | irregular-shaped Gram positive rod | irregular-shaped Gram positive rod | mixture Lactobacillus and bacterial vaginosis-associated | mixture Lactobacillus and bacterial vaginosis-associated | bacterial vaginosis | bacterial vaginosis
- Links: Menstrual Cycle - Histology | Histology - Gram Stain | Bacterial Vaginosis | CDC (USA) Fact Sheet - Bacterial Vaginosis
References
Search Pubmed
Search Pubmed Now: Menstrual Cycle Histology | uterine histology | vaginal smear | pap smear |
External Links
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 16) Embryology Menstrual Cycle - Histology. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Menstrual_Cycle_-_Histology
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G
