title: Vascular architecture of the human uterine cervix, as assessed in light- and scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to visualise and describe the vasculature  of the human uterine cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material for this study was obtained from women  (age between 20 to 45 years) during autopsy. The material was collected not  later than 24 h post-mortem. This study was performed using uteri from cadavers  of menstruating nulliparas (33 uteri) and menstruating multiparas (27 uteri).  Collected uteri were perfused via the afferent vessels with Mercox resin (for  corrosion-casting and SEM assessment) or acrylic paint solution (light microscopy  assessment). The research protocol was approved by the Jagiellonian University  Ethics Committee (registry KBET/121/8/2007).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases bilateral cervical branches (1-4), originating from the uterine  artery, were found. Both in the vaginal and supravaginal parts of the cervix,  four distinct vascular zones were found. In the pericanalar zone ran small veins,  responsible for draining the mucosal capillaries. Both in the muscular layer, as  well as in the pericanalar zone, arterioles, and venules passed close to each  other, often adjoining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study does not confirm the existence of a single cervicovaginal  artery, but shows that the vascular supply of the cervix comes from  several vessels. It also introduces the idea of two systems, responsible for draining  blood from the mucosal capillaries. Neither assessment in light microscopy  nor in SEM revealed any differences between multiparas and nulliparas, regarding  the vascular architecture of the cervix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bereza
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walocha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bachul
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014680:Veins / Q000648:ultrastructure