Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The ultrastructure of normal squamous epithelium of the human cervix uteri

1968; Academic Press; Volume: 22; Issue: 5-6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0022-5320(68)90033-6

1878-2345

Margaret Hackemann, Chandra Grubb, Kenneth R. Hill,

Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research

The fine structure of normal squamous epithelium of the human cervix uteri is described. It was not possible to draw clear-cut distinctions between all of the five successive layers commonly described on the basis of light microscopy. The observations are discussed in terms of three layers, a single-layered stratum germinativum, a wide stratum spinosum, and a superficial multilayered stratum functionalis. Although cervical epithelium does not normally keratinize, structural precursors of keratin are found in the form of fine cytoplasmic filaments. The cells of the stratum functionalis contain keratohyalin granules and have thickened cell membrane. Basal and suprabasal clear cells without desmosomal attachments were seen. The morphological features of some of these cells fulfill the requirements for Langerhans cells. The epithelium is compared with the epidermis.