We sometimes observe a condition of anterior curvature of the lumbar and sacral regions, which might be taken for a congenital lordosis, but this is really a deformity produced after birth by the physiologic weight of the body.

Figure 131 represents a case of lordosis caused by paralysis of the spinal muscles.
Analogous to this is what the accoucheurs call spondylolisthesis.
Scoliosis may be a cervicodorsal, dorsolumbar, or lumbosacral curve, and the inclination of the vertebral column may be to the right or left.

The pathologists divide scoliosis into a myopathic variety, in which the trouble is a physiologic antagonism of the muscles; or osteopathic, ordinarily associated with rachitis, which latter variety is generally accountable for congenital scoliosis.

In some cases the diameter of the chest is shortened to an almost incredible degree, but may yet be compatible with life.

Glover speaks of an extraordinary deformity of the chest with lateral curvature of the spine, in which the diameter from the pit of the stomach to the spinal integument was only 5 1/2 inches.
Supernumerary ribs are not at all uncommon in man, nearly every medical museum having some examples.