lordosis

American  

[lawr-doh-sis] / lɔrˈdoʊ sɪs /

noun

1. Pathology. an abnormal forward curvature of the spine in the lumbar region, resulting in a swaybacked posture.

2. a posture assumed by some female mammals during mating, in which the back arches downward.

---

lordosis British  

/ lɔːˈdɒtɪk, lɔːˈdəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: hollow-back.  pathol forward curvature of the lumbar spine: congenital or caused by trauma or disease Compare kyphosis scoliosis

2. zoology concave arching of the back occurring in many female animals during sexual stimulation

---

Other Word Forms

• lordotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lordosis

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek lórdōsis literally, a bending back, equivalent to lord ( ós ) bent backwards + -ōsis -osis

Compare meaning

How does lordosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• scoliosis vs. lordosis

Example Sentences

Observe the vertebral profile from the side and then from behind to check for kyphosis or lordosis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Further, we meet with a group characterised by a special want of tone in the skeletal muscles, by lordosis, by postural albuminuria, and by abdominal and intestinal disturbances of various sorts.

From The Nervous Child by Cameron, Hector Charles

This is known as “Thomas' flexion test,” and is founded upon the inability to extend the diseased hip without producing lordosis.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

The most striking feature is the extreme lordosis, accompanied usually by a secondary and compensatory curve in the cervico-dorsal region, so that the shoulders are rounded, with the head poked forward.

From The Nervous Child by Cameron, Hector Charles

In order to maintain the head erect, the spine above and below the seat of disease becomes unduly arched forward—compensatory lordosis.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander