Lumbar lordosis

What it means

Seen from the side, the spine is not a straight column — it has a series of gentle curves that balance each other out. In the neck and lower back, the curve arcs inward toward the front of the body, and this inward curve is called lordosis. Lumbar lordosis specifically refers to that curve in the lower back, the region made up of the five lumbar vertebrae between the ribcage and the pelvis. It is a completely normal feature of human anatomy, not a finding in itself.

Why it appears on a CT or MRI report

Radiologists mention the lumbar curve mainly as a descriptive detail when reading a side-view image of the spine, noting whether it is "preserved" or "maintained" (normal), "straightened" or "reduced" (flattened out, often from muscle spasm, pain, or positioning during the scan), or "exaggerated" or "accentuated" (a deeper-than-typical curve, sometimes called hyperlordosis). This comment is frequently just context for the rest of the report rather than a standalone problem, since the exact curve amount can also shift depending on how someone is lying down for the scan.

What it usually means

Some degree of lumbar lordosis is present in every healthy spine, and the exact amount varies quite a bit from person to person without any relationship to pain or disease. A mildly flattened curve on a scan is often simply a reflection of muscle tightening, guarding from discomfort at the time of the scan, or how someone was positioned on the table, rather than a structural issue. A more pronounced curve is common with certain postural patterns, tight hip flexor muscles, or pregnancy, and by itself is rarely dangerous. Lordosis is only considered clinically significant when it is extreme, associated with other structural changes, or clearly linked to specific symptoms — on its own, a note about the curve is descriptive background, not a diagnosis.

When to follow up

A comment about lumbar lordosis alone, with no other findings, generally needs no action. Mention it to your doctor if it's paired with back pain, stiffness, or reduced flexibility that's bothering you day to day, or if you've noticed a visible change in your posture over time. They can assess whether stretching, strengthening, or posture work would help, and whether the curve is contributing to any symptoms you're experiencing or is simply a normal variant.

A plain-language way to picture it

Think of the letter "C" turned to face forward, gently and shallowly — that soft inward sweep is roughly the shape of the lower back's natural curve. A spine with "preserved" lordosis has that expected, moderate C-shape. One described as "flattened" looks straighter, more like a capital "I," often because of muscle tension or tightness. One that's "exaggerated" swings into a deeper C, arching further forward than average. None of these shapes is inherently good or bad on its own — they're simply describing the silhouette of the lower back at that moment.