What term describes a lateral curvature of the spine?

The term that describes a lateral curvature of the spine is scoliosis. This condition involves an abnormal sideways curve of the spine, typically diagnosed in children and adolescents. In cases of scoliosis, the spine may curve to the left or right and can occur in varying degrees of severity.

Kypnosis refers to an excessive outward curvature of the spine, leading to a hunched back, while lordosis describes an exaggerated inward curve of the lumbar spine. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints and does not specifically relate to spinal curvature. Thus, scoliosis is the correct term associated with lateral curvature of the spine.