Skip to main content
vesicoureteral reflux

vesicoureteral reflux

1 9.1
Urine flows back from the bladder up the tube to the kidney
  • noun
  • /ˌvɛsɪkoʊˈjʊtərəl ˈriːflʌks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reflujo vesicoureteral
  • Early detection of vesicoureteral reflux is important to prevent renal damage.

Examples

  • Don't forget about vesicoureteral reflux!

  • The doctor explained that vesicoureteral reflux could lead to kidney infections if left untreated.

  • Children with vesicoureteral reflux may require regular monitoring by a urologist.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with vesicoureteral reflux.

  • Many children with vesicoureteral reflux experience recurrent urinary tract infections.

  • Doctors often recommend surgery for severe cases of vesicoureteral reflux.

  • Vesicoureteral reflux can lead to kidney damage if left untreated.

Synonyms

reflux
vsvesicoureteral reflux
  • Specialized
18 5.9

Stomach acid or food moves back into the throat and chest

is specific to urine moving back from the bladder into the ureter

Surface Forms

Morphology

vesicoureteral + reflux

The term is morphologically compositional: 'vesicoureteral' links vesico- (bladder) and ureteral (ureter) and 'reflux' means backward flow, so the combined sense is the bladder-to-ureter backflow of urine. Although technical/medical in register, the meaning is directly derivable from the constituent parts, so a learner who knows those parts would understand it.

Etymology

Vesicoureteral reflux is a medical name that gives a clear picture: vesico means 'bladder', ureteral refers to the tubes that go to the kidney, and reflux means 'flow back'. So it describes urine moving the wrong way — from the bladder back into the ureter.