How to Pronounce Apical Vaginal Prolapse
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Apical Vaginal Prolapse Pronunciation
AY-pih-kal VAJ-ih-nal PROH-laps
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
AY
stress here
pih
kal VAJ
ih
nal PROH
laps
6 syllables
What is Apical Vaginal Prolapse?
Prolapse of the upper part of the vagina, which can be caused by descent of the uterus (uterine prolapse) or, after hysterectomy, prolapse of the vaginal vault (vaginal vault prolapse). It is associated with other forms of pelvic organ prolapse.
Questions About Apical Vaginal Prolapse
How do you pronounce 'apical vaginal prolapse'?
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It's pronounced AY-pih-kal VAJ-ih-nal PROH-laps. Say it like 'AY' (as in 'day'), then 'pih-kal,' then 'VAJ-ih-nal' (rhymes with 'badge-in-al'), and finish with 'PROH-laps' (rhymes with 'no-collapse'). The stress falls on the first syllable: AY-pih-kal.
Which syllable gets the stress in this word?
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The first syllable, 'AY,' gets the strongest stress. A common mistake is stressing the second syllable (pih-KAL), but the correct way is to put the emphasis on the opening sound: AY-pih-kal vaginal prolapse.
How do you break 'apical vaginal prolapse' into syllables?
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Break it like this: a-pi-cal va-gi-nal pro-lapse. That's three syllables in 'apical,' three in 'vaginal,' and two in 'prolapse,' for a total of eight syllables across all three words.
What does 'apical' mean in this medical term?
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'Apical' comes from the Latin word 'apex,' meaning the tip or highest point of something. In this term, it refers to the upper or top part of the vagina, which is the area affected in this condition.
What does 'prolapse' mean?
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'Prolapse' comes from Latin and means to fall forward or slip down. In medical terms, it describes when a body part drops or sags from its normal position, which is why you'll see this word used for many different organ-related conditions.
What is a simpler way to say 'apical vaginal prolapse'?
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You could simply say 'vaginal prolapse' or 'prolapse of the upper vagina' in everyday language. The medical term 'apical' specifically points to the upper part, but most people just say 'vaginal prolapse' when talking about it casually.
What are other medical words that use the word 'prolapse'?
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You'll hear 'prolapse' in terms like 'uterine prolapse' (about the uterus), 'rectal prolapse' (about the rectum), and 'mitral valve prolapse' (about a heart valve). All of these words mean that the named part has slipped or dropped from its normal place.
Is there a short way to write or abbreviate this term?
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There's no single standard abbreviation for the whole phrase, but doctors might write 'AVP' or just say 'apical prolapse' as shorthand. Some might also use 'vaginal vault prolapse' or 'VVP' when referring to a specific type.
How would you use this word in a sentence?
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You might hear a doctor say: 'The patient was referred to urogynecology for evaluation of apical vaginal prolapse.' This sentence simply states that a person is being sent to a specialist to assess this specific condition.

