The cervix is part of the uterus and is often referred to as the “cervix”. If the shape of the uterus is compared to an inverted duck pear, the cervix is the part of the duck pear with the handle, cylindrical in shape and about the thickness of two index fingers combined (about 2.5 cm). The ratio of the cervix to the body of the uterus is variable, being 2:1 in infancy, 1:2 in adult women, and about 1:1 in older women. The length of the cervix also varies during pregnancy, and by the time of delivery, the cervix almost completely disappears and returns to its normal state after delivery. According to the anatomy, the part of the cervix that protrudes from the vagina is called the “cervicovaginal area”, and its diameter varies greatly from woman to woman, from the width of two index fingers to the width of three index fingers, so it is not too much to call it a “square inch”. The cervix can secrete mucus to lubricate during sexual intercourse. If a woman has her cervix removed due to some disease, it will not have a significant effect on sex itself. In the middle of the cervix is a lumen called the cervical canal, which is connected to the uterine cavity at the upper end and to the vagina at the lower end. It is through the cervical canal, the cervical opening, to the vagina and then out of the body that the endometrium, or menstruation, is shed once a month. From the naked eye there is no obvious difference between the tissues around the cervical os, but if you look with a magnifying glass or microscope, you can see that the tissues around the cervical os are made up of two different types of cells. The cells of the deep tissue are arranged like teeth or corn kernels, called “columnar epithelium”, and the cells of the entire cervical canal are the same; the tissue of the superficial or peripheral part of the uterine orifice is arranged like fish scales, called “squamous epithelium”, and the cells of the vagina are also the same. The junction between the tall columnar cells and the flattened squamous cells is called the “cervical columnar-squamous junction”, also known as the “migratory zone”. This area is affected by the hormones secreted by the ovaries, and at different times of the menstrual cycle, it recedes or moves downwards, creating a contusion-like appearance of erosion. At the same time, this area, called the “migratory zone,” can be attacked by physical, chemical, or biological factors and become diseased. One of the most important concerns is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause precancerous lesions of the cervix and even cause cervical cancer. Cervical congestion, edema, and purulent discharge are signs of acute cervicitis; nuchal cysts and polyps are signs of chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation usually requires treatment, and large cervical polyps usually need to be removed if they cause irregular bleeding; for cervical nuchal cysts, treatment can be unnecessary if there are no symptoms of increased leucorrhea. Cervical precancerous lesions are caused by human papilloma virus. The diagnostic process for precancerous lesions has been established and is called the “cytology (pathogenesis) – colposcopy – histology” three-step ladder. Thin layer liquid-based cytology or HPV testing is usually used as a screening test to look for clues of malignant cells, followed by colposcopy and microscopic examination of biopsies in abnormal cases. In the biopsy report, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 1, 2 and 3 are reported, with grade 3 being the highest version of precancerous lesions. Although it is one step away from cancer, it is still not cancer. Cervical cancer is the result of persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus and develops from untreated precancerous lesions. All cervical cancers can be treated with radiation + chemotherapy, and surgery is only considered in some patients, including younger patients, early stage patients, and those who wish to preserve ovarian and vaginal function. For cervical cancer, radiotherapy is as important as surgery. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease. With regular checkups, early detection of lesions, and timely and appropriate treatment, even if one is unfortunate enough to have cervical cancer, the treatment outcome is still relatively good and one can even get pregnant and have children.