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Cell Biology
The cervix contains two different types of epithelium: squamous and columnar. The columnar epithelium is made up of a single row of tall, column-like cells, while the squamous epithelium is thicker and made up of stratified layers of cells.
The area where the columnar and squamous epithelia meet is called the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ). The location of the SCJ varies throughout a woman’s lifetime, dependent on her age and hormonal status.
The precise location of the transformation zone also varies throughout a woman’s lifetime, starting with the menarche. Columnar epithelial cells become gradually more exposed to the acidic outer (vaginal) environment of the ectocervix, and are progressively replaced by squamous epithelium. This process of replacement is known as squamous metaplasia, or transformation.
Read more about Columnar and Squamous Epithelia, The Squamocolumnar Junction and The Transformation zone .
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