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

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Scoliosis, lordosis, knock-knee, flat foot, pigeon chest, albuminuria, cold and cyanosed extremities, are the rule rather than the exception.

From The Nervous Child by Cameron, Hector Charles

By thus converting a posterior into an anterior dislocation, the tilting of the pelvis and the lordosis are greatly diminished.

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

Figure 131 represents a case of lordosis caused by paralysis of the spinal muscles.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

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

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