Pap smear glossary

Here's a definition of some terms we're going to keep returning to in discussing mammalian reproductive cytology.

anucleate squamous cell (syn) anucleate, cornified, keratinized): a type of vaginal epithelial cell, more mature than the parabasal, the intermediate, and the superficial cell; characterized by the complete absence of a nucleus.

cornified (syn) anucleate, anucleate squamous cell , keratinized): containing keratin, which is the protein that constitutes horns, hair, fingernails, and similar hard skin surface structures. It characterizes the most mature cells of the vaginal epithelium, anucleate squamous cells.

deep: located further away from the body surface than a more superficial anatomical structure is. Example: the parabasal cell layer of the vaginal epithelium is deep to the intermediate cell layer, and the intermediate cell layer is superficial to the parabasal cell layer.

diestrus: a period of sexual or reproductive inactivity between two estrous cycles in some female mammals.

epithelial cell: cells that constitute the epithelium, which is a thin tissue layer lining cavities and lumens in the body, such as the vagina.

estrous cycle (syn) maturation cycle: the regular changes in vaginal cytology, hormone levels, and behavior which characterize the increase and decrease in reproductive capacity of the mammalian female.

estrus stage: a period of increased sexual or reproductive activity in some female mammals, marked by distinct vaginal cytological and hormonal changes.

intermediate cell (syn intermediate): a type of vaginal epithelial cell, more mature than the parabasals, less mature than the superficials and the anucleate squamous cells.

keratinized (syn) anucleate, anucleate aquamous cell, cornified): containing keratin, which is the protein that constitutes horns, hair, fingernails, and similar hard skin surface structures. It characterizes the most mature cells of the vaginal epithelium, anucleate squamous cells.

leukocytes: white blood cells. The proportion of white blood cells seen on the Pap smear slide is highest in the metestrus stage.

maturation cycle (syn) estrous cycle): the regular changes in vaginal cytology, hormone levels, and behavior which characterize the increase and decrease in reproductive capacity of the mammalian female.

Maturation Index (MI): the proportion of each cell type in the mixture of cells on the Pap smear slide; the type of cell that is in the majority is an indicator of the stage of the estrous cycle.

metestrus stage: the stage in the estrous cycle following estrus in some female mammals, characterized by an increase in parabasals, an increase in leukocytes, and a decrease in hormone (estrogen) levels.

parabasal cell (syn) parabasal: the least mature type of vaginal epithelial cell; younger than the intermediate, the superficial, and the anucleate squamous cell.

proestrus stage: the stage in the estrous cycle preceding estrus in some female mammals, characterized by an increase in intermediates and superficials, and an increase in hormone (estrogen) levels.

pyknotic nucleus: ``ink-dot'' nucleus; a degenerate or dying nucleus, which characterizes a superficial cell.

superficial (adj.): located closer to the body surface than a more deep anatomical structure is. Example: the intermediate cell layer of the vaginal epithelium is superficial to the parabasal cell layer, and the parabasal cell layer is deep to the intermediate cell layer.

superficial cell (syn) superficial: a type of vaginal epithelial cell, more mature than the parabasal and the intermediate and less mature than the anucleate squamous cell; characterized by a pyknotic nucleus.