VAGINA AND UTERUS 



201 



change in form as the surface is approached. (/) The surface 

 cells. (These are very much flattened, and so fused in longitudinal 

 section as to resemble fibers.) (g) Detached surface cells. (At 

 H, Fig. 126, these are shown in plan, having been torn off; those_ 

 intact are, of course, seen in profile.) (h) The nuclei, evenly 

 granular, usually larger than a red blood -corpuscle. 



10. The subepithelial vaginal structures. (a) The large and 

 abundant capillaries of the rnucosa. (b) The submucosa, not 



FIG. 126. VERTICAL SECTION OF THE VAGINAL LINING AT PUBERTY. 

 STAINED WITH H^MATOXYLIN AND EOSIN (X 400). 



A. Subepithelial capillary plexus. 



B. Papillary arrangement of the mucosa. 



C. Large blood-vessels in the submucosa. 

 I). Muscular wall of vagina. 



E. Deep cells of the lining epithelium. 



F. Middle strata of lining stellate cells. 



G. Surface cells in profile. 



H. Surface cells in plan detached. 



clearly separated from the mucosa, but easily recognized by the 

 large vessels and the abundant connective tissue. (c) The 

 muscular portion of the vaginal wall. 



