Kyphosis

Kyphosis
Outward curvature of the spine, causing a humped back. Treatment is by physical therapy and wearing a back brace, and in some cases by surgery. Surgery may include inserting a metal rod in the spine and restructuring some bones, and is usually followed by wearing a back cast and then a back brace for some time.
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1. An anteriorly concave curvature of the vertebral column; the normal kyphoses of the thoracic and sacral regions are retained portions of the primary curvature (k.) of the vertebral column. 2. A forward (flexion) curvature of the spine; the thoracic spine normally has a mild k.; excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine may represent a pathologic condition. [G. k., hump-back, fr. kyphos, bent, hump-backed]
- juvenile k. SYN: Scheuermann disease.
- sacral k. [TA] the normal, anteriorly concave curvature of the sacrum (sacral segment of the vertebral column), in which the primary curvature of the fetal embryo is maintained into maturity. SYN: k. sacralis TA] [TA].
- k. sacralis TA] [TA] SYN: sacral k..
- thoracic k. [TA] the normal, anteriorly concave curvature of the thoracic segment of the vertebral column, in which the primary curvature of the fetal embryo is maintained into maturity. SYN: k. thoracica [TA].
- k. thoracica [TA] SYN: thoracic k..

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ky·pho·sis kī-'fō-səs n, pl -pho·ses -.sēz exaggerated outward curvature of the thoracic region of the spinal column resulting in a rounded upper back compare LORDOSIS, SCOLIOSIS
ky·phot·ic -'fät-ik adj

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n.
excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the back. This results in marked convexity when viewed from the side. A mobile kyphosis may be caused by bad posture or muscle weakness or may develop to compensate for another condition, such as hip deformity. A fixed kyphosis may result from collapse of the vertebrae (as in senile osteoporosis), from osteochondritis in the young, or from ankylosing spondylitis. Lesser degrees of fixed kyphosis may be balanced by lordosis (inward curvature) in another part of the spine. Treatment depends on the cause, and may include physiotherapy, bracing, and spinal osteotomy in severe cases. See also kyphos, kyphoscoliosis.

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ky·pho·sis (ki-foґsis) [Gr. kyphōsis humpback] 1. an area of the vertebral column that is convex. 2. abnormally increased convexity in the curvature of the thoracic vertebral column as viewed from the side. Cf. lordosis and scoliosis.

Thoracic kyphosis secondary to osteochondrosis; the patient is partially compensating with increased lumbar lordosis.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • kyphosis — [kī fō′sis] n. [ModL < Gr kyphōsis < kyphos, a hump, hunch < IE * keubh < base * keu , to bend, arch > HIP1, HUMP] abnormal curvature of the spine resulting in a hump kyphotic [kīfät′ik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Kyphōsis — (v. gr.), Verschiebung der Wirbel u. Verkrümmungen nach hinten; daher Kyphosus, so v.w. Höckerrücken …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Kyphōsis — (griech.), Verbuckelung, s. Pottsches Übel …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • kyphosis — (n.) from Gk. kyphos crooked + OSIS (Cf. osis) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Kyphosis — For other uses, see Kyphosis (disambiguation). Hunchback redirects here. For other uses, see Hunchback (disambiguation). Kyphosis Classification and external resources A preoperative image of a 22 year old male with Scheuer …   Wikipedia

  • kyphosis — n. outward curvature of the spine, which if excessive causes hunching of the back. A mobile kyphosis may be caused by bad posture or muscle weakness or may develop to compensate for another condition, such as hip deformity; it can be corrected by …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • kyphosis — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek kyphōsis, from kyphos humpbacked Date: 1847 exaggerated outward curvature of the thoracic region of the spine resulting in a rounded upper back compare lordosis • kyphotic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • kyphosis — kyphotic /kuy fot ik/, adj. /kuy foh sis/, n. Pathol. an abnormal, convex curvature of the spine, with a resultant bulge at the upper back. Cf. lordosis, scoliosis. [1840 50; < Gk kýphosis a hunched state, equiv. to kyph(ós) humpbacked + osis… …   Universalium

  • Kyphosis — kupra statusas T sritis gyvūnų raida, augimas, ontogenezė, embriologija atitikmenys: lot. Kyphosis ryšiai: platesnis terminas – stuburo ydos sinonimas – kifozė …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

  • Kyphosis — kupra statusas T sritis embriologija atitikmenys: lot. Kyphosis ryšiai: platesnis terminas – stuburo ydos sinonimas – kifozė …   Medicininės histologijos ir embriologijos vardynas

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