prolapse

a moving down of an organ or tissue from its normal position because of weakening of the supporting tissues. This may happen to the lower end of the bowel (in children) or the UTERUS and VAGINA in women who have sustained some sort of injury during childbirth. In the latter case, prolapse may result in the uterus itself showing on the outside. Surgery can shorten the supporting LIGAMENTS and narrow the vaginal opening.