Final answer:
Kyphosis is an excessive curvature of the thoracic vertebrae, often due to osteoporosis leading to weakened bones and collapse of vertebrae. This condition, along with lordosis and scoliosis, affects spinal curvature and can be treated with various methods depending on severity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Quasimodo, the fictional character from 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', is said to have an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic vertebrae, which is medically referred to as kyphosis. Kyphosis is an excessive posterior curvature of the thoracic region, often the result of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis weakens the bones, leading to the erosion and gradual collapse of the anterior portions of the upper thoracic vertebrae. This condition is not unique to fictional characters; it is a real medical issue that can significantly affect one's quality of life, especially in the elderly, where it is also known as dowager's hump.
Disorders of the vertebral column can be influenced by developmental anomalies, pathological changes, or obesity, leading to abnormal spinal curvatures, including lordosis and scoliosis, along with kyphosis.
Lordosis involves an excessive anterior curvature of the lumbar region and scoliosis is characterized by an abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. Treating these conditions can vary from the use of back braces to surgery in severe cases.
In the case of Quasimodo, his condition would likely be categorized under similar disorders of the vertebral column that we see today. Understanding these spinal disorders helps in diagnosing and offering proper treatments to improve the lives of those affected.