Chapter 14 The female reproductive system/Fig 14.03.jpg

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The cervix throughout reproductive life. In the prepubertal cervix (A), the ectocervix (long arrow) and endocervix (short arrow) meet at the external cervical os. With the onset of puberty, the endocervix everts (B) and undergoes squamous metaplasia (thick red line) (C). This area of metaplasia defines the transformation zone. After the menopause, the transformation zone recedes into the endocervical canal (D).