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Medical Encyclopedia

Patent urachus

During fetal development the urachus is a tube that connects the bladder to the umbilicus. After birth, the urachus normally closes and becomes a ligament. If the urachus remains open, surgery is recommended so that bacteria or infection cannot be introduced into the bladder.

Update Date: 9/7/2008

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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