Urinary Reflux Diagrams

Urinary Reflux Diagrams

A series of diagrams showing the different stages of reflux.

 

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Urinary reflux stages

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 urinary tract

Normal genitourinary system

Grade 1 urinary reflux

Grade 1 urinary reflux with genitourinary anatomy

Urine refluxes part-way up the ureter.

Grade 2 urinary reflux

Grade 2 urinary reflux with genitourinary anatomy

Urine refluxes all the way up the ureter.

Grade 3 urinary reflux

Grade 3 urinary reflux with genitourinary anatomy

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

Grade 4 urinary reflux

Grade 4 urinary reflux with genitourinary anatomy

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

Grade 5 urinary reflux with genitourinary anatomy

Reflux of large amounts of urine up the ureter. Marked twisting and widening of the ureter and the part of the kidney where urine collects.

Acknowledgements

Illustrations of normal kidneys, ureter and bladder and grades 1 to 5 reflux by Dr Greta File. Property of KidsHealth. 

This page last reviewed 28 October 2021.

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