AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Symptoms Guide
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Medical Symptoms Guide > Lordosis

Lordosis

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview & Considerations

Common Causes

Home Care & Treatment

Call your Health Care Provider if

What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Pictures & Images

Go To Main Page

Alternate Names : Swayback


Definition

Lordosis is an increased curvature of the normally curved lumbar spine.

Pictures & Images

Skeletal Spine
Skeletal Spine

Lordosis
Lordosis

     See all Pictures & Images
Overview & Considerations

The spine has three types of curves:

  • Kyphotic, which typically refers to the outward curve of the thoracic spine (at the level of the ribs)
  • Lordotic, which refers to the inward curve of the lumbar spine (just above the buttocks)
  • Scoliotic, which is a sideways curvature of the spine and which is always abnormal

A small degree of both kyphotic and lordotic curvature is normal. Exaggeration of the kyphotic curve is described as round shoulders or hunched shoulders (the medical term is Scheuermann's disease). Exaggeration of the lordotic curve is often called swayback (the medical term is lordosis).

This curvature tends to make the buttocks appear more prominent. A child with marked lordosis, when laid on his back on a hard surface, will have a space beneath his lower back and the surface.

If the lordotic curve is flexible (when the child bends forward the curve reverses itself) it is generally of little medical significance. If the curve is fixed, it suggests the need for medical evaluation and intervention.



Today's Top News Stories

Hormone Therapy May Cut Colorectal Cancer Risk - Jan 08, 2009, 09:00
Study included nearly 57,000 women who had been followed for about 15 years.

New Drug May Work Better Against Chemo Side Effects - Jan 08, 2009, 09:00
Japanese testing reveals longer protection from nausea and vomiting.

Early Elective C-Sections Produce Complications - Jan 07, 2009, 17:00
Babies delivered at 37 weeks have double the troubles of those born at 39 weeks.

Gene Governs Response to Leukemia Chemotherapy - Jan 07, 2009, 17:00
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is most common pediatric cancer.

Teen Birth Rate Up in 26 States in 2006 - Jan 07, 2009, 14:00
Highest rates in South, Southwest; lowest rates in Northeast, government reports.


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Lordosis: Overview & Considerations
Lordosis: Common Causes
Lordosis: Home Care & Treatment
Call your Health Care Provider if
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Pictures & Images

Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Diskitis

Tests & Exams

Lumbosacral Spine X-Ray
Thoracic Spine X-Ray

Other Topics

Benign
Physical Examination

Review Date : 1/15/2002
Reviewed By : David M. Scher, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Lordosis






Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Copyright © 2007 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 08 Jan, 2009