Using Human Papillomavirus (HPV) detection tests for cervical cancer screening and managing HPV-positive women – a practical guide / Activity 2

The outer surfaces of all the organs in the body are lined with a special type of tissue, known as epithelium. The cervix is lined with two different types of epithelium:

• The squamous epithelium, which primarily covers the ectocervix, is composed of multiple layers of squamous cells;
• The columnar epithelium, which forms the lining of the endocervical canal, is composed of a single layer of cells.

The rest of the cervical tissue underlying the epithelium is called the cervical stroma. The stroma contains connective tissue and is rich in blood vessels.

The next sections describe in detail the two types of epithelium.