Pap test

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Pap test

The Pap test (pronounced /pæp/), also known as a Pap smear, cervical smear, or Papanicolaou test, 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 Pap test involves collecting cells from the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus that's at the top of the vagina. The collected cells are examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities that may indicate the presence of cervical cancer or a microbial infection.

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 cervix.
  • Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus located at the top of the vagina.
  • Vagina: The muscular canal extending from the cervix to the outside of the woman's body.
  • Uterus: A woman's womb, the place where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant.
  • George Papanicolaou: A Greek pioneer in cytopathology and early cancer detection, and inventor of the "Pap smear".

See Also

External links

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