The spine of the fetus is C-shaped and concave anteriorly.

In the adult, the thoracic and sacral curvatures are in the same direction as in the fetus and so are called primary curvatures.

The secondary curvatures of the adult cervical and lumbar spine bend in the opposite direction (concave posteriorly). The secondary curvatures begin to develop after birth as the infant learns to hold up the head (cervical curvature) and to walk upright (lumbar curvature).

Three abnormal curvatures are:

Kyphosis - exaggerated curvature of the thoracic spine - "hunched-back"

Lordosis - exaggerated lumbar curvature

Scoliosis - a complex abnormality which presents as an "S" shaped spine when viewed posteriorly and has a rotational component as well

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Curvatures of the spine