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HPV: how a cell changes
A journey from the cervix to a koilocyte seen in a Pap test.
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Human papillomavirus · Visual journey
HPV: how a cell changes.
A visual journey from the body to a Pap test.
Begin the journeyScroll to move closer
System and organs
Reproductive system
We locate the cervix within the reproductive system.
Region
The cervix
A Pap test collects cells from this area.
The sequence moves from a human figure to the reproductive system, the cervix, and a Pap test cytology specimen.
Compare
The difference is inside the cell.
This cytology image places both fields side by side: squamous cells without these changes on the left and cells showing HPV effect on the right.
Without these changesHPV effectUnder the microscope
Now look at the cell in the center.
The clear space around the nucleus and the presence of two nuclei are the clues we follow in this image.
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Image provenance and medical evidence supporting this journey.
- Female body anatomical model .. Human Reference Atlas, NIH 3D
- Female reproductive system .. U.S. Government, Public domain (U.S. government work)Labels and arrows were removed; the anatomy was not redrawn.
- Anatomy of the cervix .. National Cancer Institute
- Human papillomavirus .. National Cancer Institute
- Koilocyte morphology .. NCBI Bookshelf
- ThinPrep cytology comparison .. Ed Uthman, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Koilocyte of the cervix .. Ed Uthman, CC BY 2.0Color, contrast, and framing were adjusted.
Sources verified August 8, 2026. This journey is educational and does not replace medical evaluation.
