The spine and curvature abnormalities

In this issue

• Spinal curvature anomalies

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Spinal curvature and anomalies

• Spine
• Vertebrae
• Normal position: The normal curvatures of the spine include an outward kyphotic curvature in the thoracic and sacral regions and an inward lordotic curvature of the lumbar and cervical regions, all within a completely vertical spine.
• Scoliosis: lateral deviation of the spine.
• Kyphosis or hyperkyphosis: Abnormally excessive kyphotic curvature of the spine as it occurs in the thoracic and sacral regions.
• Can result from arthritis, developmental problems, osteoporosis with compression fractures of the vertebra, etc.
• Lordosis or hyperlordosis: An excessive curvature of the lordotic regions, most commonly seen in the lower back.
• Some causes include imbalances in muscle strength and length, such as weak hamstrings or tight hip flexors, achondroplasia, spondylolisthesis, osteoporosis, and pregnancy, among others.

• Columna vertebral
• Vertebras
• Posición normal: Las curvaturas normales de la columna vertebral incluyen una curvatura cifótica hacia afuera en las regiones torácica y sacra y una curvatura lordótica hacia adentro de las regiones lumbar y cervical, todo dentro de una columna vertebral completamente vertical.
• Escoliosis: desviación lateral de la columna.
• Cifosis o hipercifosis: Curvatura cifótica anormalmente excesiva de la columna vertebral, como se produce en las regiones torácica y sacra.
• Puede ser resultado de la artritis, problemas del desarrollo, la osteoporosis con fracturas por compresión de las vértebras, etc.
• Lordosis o hiperlordodsis: Una curvatura excesiva de las regiones lordóticas, observada más comúnmente en la espalda baja.
• Algunas causas incluyen desequilibrios en la fuerza y la longitud muscular, como músculos isquiotibiales débiles o flexores de la cadera contraidos, acondroplasia, espondilolistesis, osteoporosis, y el embarazo, entre otros.

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