Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Scoliosis is a medical condition where there's an abnormal lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine. It can appear in any part of the spine but is most commonly found in the chest area (thoracic scoliosis) or lower back (lumbar scoliosis).
These are twelve vertebrae located in the mid-back behind the chest area, forming part of the vertebral column and contributing to thoracic scoliosis when misaligned.