The urinary reflux degrees of severity

There are different degrees of severity of urinary reflux, graded from 1 to 5. Grade 1 is the mildest form, while grade 5 is the most severe.

Normal kidney, ureter, and bladder

Grade 1 urinary reflux

Urine (shown in blue) refluxes part-way up the ureter.

Grade 2 urinary reflux

Urine refluxes all the way up the ureter.

Grade 3 urinary reflux

Urine refluxes all the way up the ureter with some widening (dilatation) of the ureter and the part of the kidney where urine collects (calyces).

Grade 4 urinary reflux

Urine refluxes all the way up the ureter with a marked widening of the ureter and the part of the kidney where urine collects.

Grade 5 urinary reflux

Massive reflux of urine up the ureter with marked twisting and widening of the ureter and the part of the kidney where urine collects.