{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,6]],"date-time":"2025-12-06T04:49:54Z","timestamp":1764996594596,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,2]],"date-time":"2025-03-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740873600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: To analyze the microscopic anatomy of the human uterine cervix in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images obtained by microtomography (microCT). Methods: Human uterine cervixes surgically removed for benign gynecologic conditions were immersed in formalin and iodine solution for more than 72 h and images were acquired by microtomography. Results: In total, 10 cervical specimens were evaluated. The images provided by microCT allowed the study of the vaginal squamous epithelium, demonstrated microscopic 3D images of the metaplastic process between the exo and endocervix, and demonstrated the effects of metaplastic transformation on the thickness of the endocervical epithelium. Also reconstructed in 3D the endocervical folds and the repercussions of the metaplastic process on the endocervix, the changes of the endocervical epithelium along the cervical lumen and the relationship between the endocervix epithelium from the internal os and endometrium. In addition, 2D images could demonstrate the difference in tissue orientation of the collagen on the cervical stroma in a large field of view. Conclusions: MicroCT could demonstrate the microscopic anatomy of the human uterine cervix in 2D and 3D images, including the different stages of metaplastic process of the endocervical epithelium and reconstructed the endocervical lumen in 3D, preserving its natural anatomy without any mechanical effect for its dilatation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15050603","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T09:04:49Z","timestamp":1740992689000},"page":"603","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Three-Dimensional Microscopic Characteristics of the Human Uterine Cervix Evaluated by Microtomography"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3639-2259","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Paula Pinho","family":"Matos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Osvaldo Luiz","family":"Aranda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vassouras University, Vassouras 27700-000, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8797-7380","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edson","family":"Marchiori","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alessandra Silveira","family":"Machado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nuclear Engineering Program (PEN\/COPPE), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Adriana Jos\u00e9","family":"Da Penha Moreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nuclear Engineering Program (PEN\/COPPE), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Heron","family":"Werner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6145-2532","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edward","family":"Araujo J\u00fanior","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of S\u00e3o Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), S\u00e3o Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil"},{"name":"Discipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of S\u00e3o Caetano do Sul (USCS), S\u00e3o Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0318-9390","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberta","family":"Granese","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, \u201cG. Martino\u201d University Hospital, 98100 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5301-986X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gloria","family":"Calagna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pedro Teixeira","family":"Castro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2092","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/deu195","article-title":"The role of the cervix in fertility: Is it time for a reappraisal?","volume":"29","author":"Martyn","year":"2014","journal-title":"Hum. 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