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.

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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

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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

With over 12 years of experience developing expandable interbody spacer systems, combined with a track record of success, Globus has developed next generation implants that provide innovative solutions to maximize lordosis and address sagittal imbalance.

From Washington Times

She had both scoliosis and lordosis — sideways and vertical curvature of her spine — and her rear flippers were paralyzed.

From Los Angeles Times

Slouching rounds the lumbar spine into kyphosis rather than slight lordosis, its natural state.

From Time

It’s common for pregnant women to suffer from lordosis, a curvature of the spine that can cause lower back pain during strength training, Artal said.

From Washington Post

The absence of a compensatory lordosis in such a condition would warrant the inference that the patient had been bed-ridden.

From Project Gutenberg