noun / verb
prolapse
PROH-laps/ˈprəʊlæps/
An organ slipping from its normal position.
The cutaway shows uterine prolapse, with the uterus descending into the vaginal canal.
Etymology
The pieces describe slipping forward or down. In the medical noun, this is a literal displacement: an organ slips down or out of its normal position.
In context
The most common of all heart valve diseases is mitral valve prolapse, or MVP. In MVP, the mitral leaflets bulge into the left atrium every time the ventricles contract.
More examples
- The uterus can prolapse when its supporting tissues weaken.
- Her prolapsed bladder causes discomfort when she stands.
- The doctor recommends treatment for a rectal prolapse.
Forms
prolapse · prolapses · prolapsed · prolapsing
Similar words
- displacement
- Any shift from position, not specifically an organ slipping downward.
- descent
- Downward movement generally, without necessarily involving an organ or disorder.