Which regions of the adult spine develop lordosis?

• A. Cervical and lumbar regions.
• B. Thoracic and sacral regions.
• C. Cervical and thoracic regions.
• D. Lumbar and sacral regions.

Answer: (A)

The spine develops two inward curves, or lordoses, in regions that bear a lot of upright load and require balance. The cervical region becomes lordotic as a child learns to hold up and move the head, and the lumbar region becomes lordotic as walking and standing establish weight-bearing through the lower back. The thoracic and sacral regions remain kyphotic (outward curves) because of their rib cage and pelvic attachments, which shape them differently and do not create the inward curvature seen in the neck and lower back. So the regions that develop lordosis are the cervical and lumbar regions.