Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is an abnormal degree of forward curvature of part of the spine. The term comes from the Greek kyphos meaning ‘bowed or bent’. It is used to describe a degree of forward curvature sufficient to cause a significant change of shape.
A degree of forward curvature is normal in the upper back region of the spine and in the lowest part (the sacrum). Indeed, however upright the posture, a spine without a forward curve would be abnormal.
