retroflexion

or ret·ro·flec·tion

[ re-truh-flek-shuhn ]

noun

1. a bending backward.
2. Pathology. a bending backward of the body of the uterus upon the cervix.
3. Phonetics.
   1. retroflex articulation.
   2. the acoustic quality resulting from retroflex articulation; r-color.

retroflexion

/ ˌrɛtrəʊˈflɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or condition of bending or being bent backwards
2. phonetics the act of turning the tip of the tongue upwards and backwards towards the hard palate in the articulation of a vowel or a consonant

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroflexion¹

1835–45; < New Latin retrōflexiōn- (stem of retrōflexiō ), equivalent to Latin retrōflex ( us ) retroflex + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

If the womb is turned backwards, the condition is called retroversion; if it is bent or flexed backward upon itself the condition is called retroflexion.

From Project Gutenberg

An extreme degree of anteversion or anteflexion, or retroversion or retroflexion, may interfere with impregnation, as the spermatozoa may find it difficult or impossible to reach the opening of the womb—the external os.

From Project Gutenberg