Papanicolaou smear
Papanicolaou Smear
The Papanicolaou smear (pronounced pah-pah-nik-oh-LAU), also known as a Pap test or Pap smear, is a screening procedure used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system.
Etymology
The test was named after the prominent Greek doctor George Papanicolaou, who developed the method in the early 20th century.
Procedure
The procedure involves collecting cells from the uterine cervix and vagina, which are then spread onto a microscope slide for examination. The main goal of the Papanicolaou smear is to prevent cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells early.
Related Terms
- Cervical Cancer: A type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix.
- Endocervical Canal: The narrow passage that runs from the opening of the uterus to the end of the vagina.
- George Papanicolaou: A Greek pioneer in cytopathology and early cancer detection, and inventor of the "Pap smear".
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Papanicolaou smear
- Wikipedia's article - Papanicolaou smear
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