The epithelium of the surface and the forked glands is the simple columnar type and is composed of mucus-secreting cells . Although the cervical endometrium does not undergoes as extreme changes as that of the corpus does, the quality and quantity of cervical mucus varies with the cycle. This is important because mid-cycle cervical mucus appears to facilitate the passage of spermatozoa. The portio vaginalis of the cervix is covered with stratified squamous epithelium . Pap smears contain scrapings of cervical epithelium, and the cytology of the cells is the basis of diagnosis.
Cervical cancers are generally of stratified squamous origin.
Epithelium changes to simple columnar in the endocervical canal. The mucosa contains a non-cornified stratified squamous epithelium . The epithelial cells are rich in glycogen, and when the cells are shed into the lumen the glycogen is metabolized by bacteria, resulting in an acid pH. There are no glands in the lamina propria. The muscularis consists of smooth muscle. The adventitia is connective tissue.