HistologyTissue
The tissue of the vaginal mucosa is divided into several layers from the inside out: The mucosa of the vagina in turn is also divided into several layers, namely into multi-layered, non-cornified squamous epithelium and a connective tissue lamina propria (lamina = plate). The squamous epithelium of the vagina consists of the following 4 layers: This epithelium is subject to changes caused by hormones depending on the female cycle: The mucosa of the vagina is kept moist in two ways: firstly, the cervical mucus moistens it, and secondly, the transudate, which is pressed out of the vein plexus of the vagina. The amount is 2 to 5ml per day, and up to 15ml can be produced during sexual arousal.
Furthermore, the vagina is colonized by bacteria, which creates the vaginal flora. The type and number of organisms colonizing the vagina depends on the glycogen content and thus on the hormone level, since the hormones regulate the release of glycogen from the superficial cells during the female cycle and sexual maturation. Up to puberty, staphylococcus and streptococcus are predominant and an alkaline environment prevails in the vagina.However, this changes with the onset of puberty and continues until postmenopause.
Now, lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli) are found in the vagina, which break down the released glycogen into lactic acid (lactate), making the vaginal environment acidic (pH 3.8 to 4.5). In addition to the germs mentioned above, others may also occur.
- Mucosa = multi-layered, non-cornified squamous epithelium and connective tissue lamina propria, no glands
- Muscularis = smooth muscles, elastic fibers, connective tissue
- AdventitiaParakolpium = connective tissue; anchoring in the environment
- Stratum basale (stratum = ceiling): basal cells, responsible for cell proliferation
- Stratum parabasaleStraum spinosum profundum: Parabasal cells, incipient cell differentiation
- Stratum intermediumStratum spinosum superficiale: Intermediary cells with high glycogen content
- Stratum superficiale: Superficial cells with a lot of glycogen
- Langerhans cells: Cells of the immune defense, intermediate
- Before ovulation (ovulation) or pre-ovulatory, all layers are strongly developed by the influence of estrogen.
- After ovulation, or postovulatory, the superficial stratum is broken down, releasing the glycogen contained in the cells.
The vagina itself has several functions.
On the one hand, it is used for the drainage of cervical secretions and menstrual blood, during which time it expands due to its elasticity. On the other hand, the vagina functions as the last part of the birth canal during the birth of a child. Again, the vaginal dilatability plays a decisive role, as it allows the vagina to adapt to the baby’s head circumference.
The vaginal flora also fulfills an important function, on the one hand by killing pathogenic germs in the vagina through the acidic environment, and on the other hand by protecting the colonization of the vagina with non-disease-causing germs as a “placeholder” against infections with pathogenic germs. This is to be understood in such a way that no colonization space remains for the pathogenic germs, since this space is already occupied by the non-pathogenic organisms. In this way, the flora of the vagina also offers protection against ascending diseases into higher lying organs such as the uterus or ovaries (germ masculine).
