different between scoliosis vs kyphosis

English

Etymology

From Latin scoliosis, from Ancient Greek ????????? (skolí?sis, “twisting; torsion”).

Noun

scoliosis (countable and uncountable, plural scolioses)

1. (pathology) A condition in which there is abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:scoliosis.

Hyponyms

• dextroscoliosis
• levoscoliosis
• rotoscoliosis

Derived terms

• scoliometer
• scoliotic

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• cyphosis (dated)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ????? (kuphós, “humpback, bent”) +? -osis

Noun

kyphosis (countable and uncountable, plural kyphoses)

1. (anatomy) The normal convex curvature of the spine in the thoracic and sacral regions.
2. (pathology) An abnormal convex curvature of the spine in the cervical or lumbar regions of the spine.

   Synonyms: roundback, Kelso's hunchback

Usage notes

Some degree of kyphosis is normal and non-pathological in the thoracic and sacral regions, so an excessive curvature in either of those regions would be described as hyperkyphosis. However, the cervical and lumbar regions normally exhibit lordosis, or concave curvature, and any kyphosis in those regions would be considered pathological.

Related terms

• hyperkyphosis
• hypokyphosis
• kyphometer
• kyphotic
• rekyphosis

Translations

See also

• gibbous
• humpback
• hunchback
• lordosis
• scoliosis

Further reading

• kyphosis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia