In this issue
- Spinal curvature anomalies
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learned within the busy schedule of a health care worker. You’ll find anatomy charts, additional vocabulary,
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with a patient or as a study guide for coursework.
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.
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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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Written by
Evelin Maza
on February 9, 2016
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