What Is the Endocervical Canal?
The area between the uterus and the vagina in the female reproductive system is called the endocervical canal. At the top end lies the internal orifice of the uterus, or the internal os. This is the opening to the uterine cavity. At the bottom is the external os, which leads to the vagina. The average length of the canal is about three centimeters, although it can vary from one woman to the next. It is a narrow, flat channel surrounded by thick, smooth muscle and connective tissue. Several folds, called palmate folds, run the length of the structure. The lining of the canal contains numerous mucus-producing cells. The mucus changes throughout the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle, with a more fertile type hospitable to sperm being produced around the time of ovulation.
