What is the Cervix?

Learning more about the cervix

Women often talk about the cervix when discussing Pap smears and pregnancy, however, many women do not know what the cervix and what it does!

What is the Cervix?
The cervix is a conical shaped passageway that connects the uterus to the vagina. Two types of cells cover the cervix, columnar and squamous. The cervix is about 1 inch long.

What is the Function of the Cervix?
The cervix allows the passage of a baby from the uterus to the vagina during childbirth. The cervical opening widens, called dilation.

Terms to Know
You may hear these terms during exams, Pap smears, or colposcopies:

• transformation zone: an area inside the endocervical canal that is a common place for dysplasia to occur in women. The transformation zone is commonly called the "TZ" by doctors and on medical charts.
  
  
• os: The os is a small opening in the cervix that opens to allow the passage of menstrual fluids or the passage of a baby during childbirth.
  
  
• endocervical canal: The endocervical canal is passageway from the opening of the cervix to uterus. During a colposcopy, a doctor may scrape the endocervical canal to collect cells for examination. This is called an endocervical canal curettage, or ECC.