Mikaela Menarguez
Abstract
Summary
Mucus from the lumen of the cervix appears to be a morphologically heterogeneous entity. It contains different types of secretions, the proportion of which vary throughout the menstrual cycle. The different mucosal types show different types of crystallization, different patterns of ultrastructure (probably related to the arrangement of the glycoprotein network) and are produced in different secretory zones of the crypts in the cervix.
One of these mucus types is P mucus. Recent studies about it shows the relation between mucus symptom and P mucus levels in the samples from the cervix, although this is the least abundant of the different mucus types, about 5-7 percent in the peak day. It has been also studied P cells, secreting P mucus (Odeblad, 10).
There are also in the female genital tract some binary cell-secretion systems. A single type of cells or a single type of secretion often shows well-defined function. However, we want to draw attention to systems in which two types of secretions or cells seem to form a symbiotic unit with a meaningful function of importance in the female tract (Odeblad, 9). For example, the L and S mucus together, are necessary for the sperm selection. Also P and S mucus interaction contribute to sperm selection. Some cells are also involved, for example, in the peak symptom, which can be experience in the vestibular part of the vulva.
Keyword(s): Cervical mucus/ferning/ morphology/ microscopy/ cell-secretion.
DOI: 10.5200/55
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