gastroesophageal reflux n backward flow of the gastric contents into the esophagus due to improper functioning of a sphincter at the lower end of the esophagus and resulting esp. in heartburn see HEARTBURN
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reflux of the stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus, which sometimes occurs normally, particularly in the distended stomach postprandially, or as a chronic pathological condition that leads to the conditions known as gastroesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis.Medical dictionary. 2011.