Orthopaedics · Musculoskeletal System · Medium
Scoliosis
Meaning: An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
In practice: Scoliosis is often detected during teenage growth spurts.
Word parts
- -osis means an abnormal condition or process
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related orthopaedics words.
Which word means: Neck injury caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration, typically in a rear-end road traffic collision.
Answer: Whiplash
Which word means: Deviation of the long axis of one fracture fragment relative to the other.
Answer: Angulation
Words like scoliosis come up in the daily game
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