Final answer:
The patient is placed with their feet in stirrups during a visual examination like a Pap smear. A speculum is used to hold back the vaginal walls for access to the cervix, where a tissue sample is taken for analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
For the visual examination of the internal surfaces of the vagina and cervix, such as during a Pap smear, the patient is placed in a position on the examining table with their feet in "stirrups" that hold the legs up and apart. A medical instrument called a speculum is inserted into the vagina to hold back the vaginal walls and provide access to the cervix. Once the speculum is in place, a small sample of tissue from the cervix is collected and prepared for microscopic examination to identify any abnormal cells. The vagina serves as both an entrance to the female reproductive tract and also as an exit from the uterus during menstruation and childbirth, and it is capable of expanding to accommodate various functions such as sexual intercourse and the birth process. The lining of the vagina has various layers, including an outer fibrous adventitia, a middle layer of smooth muscle, and an inner mucous membrane, which together allow for the necessary elasticity.