Histology of vagina

Histology of vagina

The vagina is a fibromuscular tube that joins internal reproductive organs to the external environment . it extends from cervix of uterus to vestibule- the area between two labia minora . i

In a vargin the opening of vagina is surrounded by hymen – folds of muscous membrane, it is the remnant which derived from endodermal membrane

and it is the organ of copulation , it passage fetus during labour .

Histologically it has three  layers from inside to outside.

1.      Mucosa :

a)      Lining epithelium : non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Keratohyaline granules may be present in the epithelial cells

b)     Lamina propria : this layer composed of fibro-elastic connective tissue

which contain numerous blood vessels , it is the unique feature of vagina .

Vagina has no muscularis mucosa and submucosa

2.      Muscle layer : organized into two indistinct layers : outer longitudinal and inner circular . the outer longitudinal layer continuous with the corresponding layer of the uterus and much thicker than the inner layer . bulbospongiosus the skeletal muscle is present near the opening of vagina.

3.      Adventitia : it has two layers