[Cytology of the lower segment of the female urethra. Normal cellular elements and physiological variations].

Three types of epithelial cells have been described on desquamation of the inferior part of the feminine urethra: squamous cells, stratified columnar cells, cells of mucous glands. The columnar cells do not show distinctly quantitative variations in relation with the normal feminine sexual cycle. Columnar cells disappear from the 5th month of pregnancy to the beginning of the post-partum period with return afterwards to a normal distribution. Columnar cells are rather numerous on prepubertal and menopausal smears. Urethral squamous cells show qualitative and quantitative variations identical to those observed on vaginal smears.