UNSW Embryology

Human Menstrual Cycle Smears

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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.
Clicking on the small images below will take you to a large version of each image.

Human Vaginal Smears

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

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

Click on image to see full size.

Menstrual
Early Proliferative
Mid Proliferative
Late Proliferative, Ovulatory
Secretory
Late Secretory, Premenstral

day 1-4
day 5-9
day 9-13
day 13-14
day 15-22
day 23-28

Both stratum corneum (red) and stratum spinosum (blue) epithelial cells will mostly blood. Leukocytes and bacteria may also be present.

[coloured words are not links]

mainly large and small basophilic (blue) stratum spinosum cells.

stratum spinosum (blue) increase in size. Dark precipate outside cells are bacteria.

mainly stratum corneum (red) which are large and flat, appear due to high estrogen levels.

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.

stratum spinosum cells (blue) mainly with a few stratum corneum cells (red). Clustering of cells occurs at this stage and both leukocytes and bacteria are prevelant.

Click on image to see full size.
Menstrual	Early Proliferative	Mid Proliferative	Late Proliferative, Ovulatory	Secretory	Late Secretory, Premenstral
day 1-4	day 5-9	day 9-13	day 13-14	day 15-22	day 23-28
Both stratum corneum (red) and stratum spinosum (blue) epithelial cells will mostly blood. Leukocytes and bacteria may also be present. [coloured words are not links]	mainly large and small basophilic (blue) stratum spinosum cells.	stratum spinosum (blue) increase in size. Dark precipate outside cells are bacteria.	mainly stratum corneum (red) which are large and flat, appear due to high estrogen levels.	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.	stratum spinosum cells (blue) mainly with a few stratum corneum cells (red). Clustering of cells occurs at this stage and both leukocytes and bacteria are prevelant.