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"Lordosis - What is Lordosis?"

From Anne Asher,
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Definition: Lordosis is a term that describes the forward direction of a spinal curve (when viewing from the side).

The term 'lordosis' can be used to refer to the normal lordotic curves (cervical and lumbar).

The term is also very often used to describe abnormal curvature in any area of the spine in which the bones go forward (when viewing from the side).

  • In lumbar and cervical abnormal lordosis, the normal curves are exaggerated.
  • Although this doesn't happen very often, the term lordosis would describe a reversal of the curve in the thoracic area of the spine.

Updated: April 3, 2007
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