Prolapse

In medicine, prolapse is a condition in which organs fall down or slip out of place. The term is used for organs that protrude through the vagina or rectum, and also for the misalignment of the valves of the heart. A spinal disc herniation is sometimes called a disc prolapse as well. The word means to fall out of place and comes from the Latin prolabi, meaning to fall out. In the case of the uterus, prolapse results in the organ extending downward into the vagina, and the source attributes this to weakened pelvic muscles. Because the term names a way in which many different organs can fail, it groups together problems that differ widely in body system and cause.