Severe dysplasia of cervix. Light micrograph of a cervical smear showing severe dysplasia (abnormal development) of epithelial cells (blue and pink). Such dysplasia corresponds to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3. The cervix is the narrow passage that links the uterus to the vagina. Large dark-stained nuclei of dysplastic cells can be seen at centre, indicating cell division. These abnormalities to the cell nucleus, known as severe dyskaryosis, are potentially cancerous changes and can be used to diagnose cervical cancer. If diagnosed early enough cervical cancer can be cured. Papanicolaou stained. Magnification: x400 at 35mm size.