UNSW Embryology Human Menstrual Cycle Smears Secretory					Embryology Home Page
Menstrual Cycle	Smears	Human Stages	Low Power Series	High Power Series	Human Embryo Homepage

• This Page relates to samples of normal Human vaginal smears during Menstrual cycle.
• Images are taken from the teaching posters used in the Embryology Practical Classes, School of Anatomy.
• Smear images are best viewed in thousands of colours.

Previous image

Next Image

Smears

Menstrual Cycle Homepage

Day 15-22	Secretory
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.

Human Vaginal Smears

Stratum corneum (eosinophilic, red) and stratum spinosum (basophilic, blue) cells throughout the menstrual cycle.

Observe cell size, proportion of pyknotic nuclei, stain intensity and cell morphology. Leukocyte number is variable, but not a reliable criteria.