define cystocele, and give two reasons why a cystocele may occur
Cystocele. A dropped or prolapsed bladder (cystocele) occurs when the bladder wall bulges into the vaginal space. It results when supporting muscles and tissues for the bladder give way. Your pelvic floor consists of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support your bladder and other pelvic organs. The connections between your pelvic floor muscles and ligaments can weaken over time, as a result of trauma from childbirth or chronic straining of pelvic floor muscles.
Diagnosing and Treating a Cystocele Simply defined, a cystocele is a protrusion of the bladder into the vagina due to defects in pelvic support (Fig. 1). The radiographic definition of a cystocele is descent of the bladder base below the inferior margin of the symphysis pubis.