Spine Curvature

Curves are a normal part of the spine’s structure. Looking at the spine from the side (lateral), several curves can be seen (Figure 1-A). From this angle, the spine almost resembles a soft ‘S’ shape. When viewing the spinal column from the rear (posterior), the spine appears vertically straight — from the neck to the tailbone (Figure 1-B). The normal curves are termed lordosis and kyphosis. However, the natural curves should not be mistaken for spinal disorders also called Lordosis and Kyphosis. We will talk about abnormal curves later in this article.