Title Page -- Contents -- Chapter 1. Tutorial Course: Concepts and Methods of 3-D Measurement and Shape Analysis of the Spine and Back -- Definitions and Terminology for Assessment of Spinal Shape -- Photogrammetric Measurement. Considerations for the Medical Person -- Coordinate Systems, Coordinate Transformations, Invariants, Shape Analysis of Curves and Surfaces -- Three-Dimensional Measurements with Optoelectronic Devices -- Problems of Statistics and Error Analysis in Biomechanics -- Chapter 2. Etiology, Pathogenesis and Pathomechanism of Spinal Deformities -- Idiopathic Scoliosis. What is it? -- Current State of Knowledge -- Idiopathic Scoliosis and Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) -- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Developmental Stability -- Torsion in Lower Limb Bones of Healthy Subjects -- Torsion in Lower Limb Bones of Children Screened for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) -- Pelvis Asymmetry in Idiopathic Scoliosis. Evidence of Whole Torsional Body Deformity? -- Mechanical Modulation of Vertebral and Disc Growth Rate -- The Relationship Between Stature and the Volume of the Lumbar Disc Investigated Using MRI -- Aging of Human Intervertebral Discs. A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study -- Vertebral Body and Disc Wedging in Scoliosis -- Predictability of Curve Progression of Idiopathic Scoliosis: The Intervertebral Disc Changes Using MRI -- Anthropometry and Allometry in Pre-Operative Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) -- Lateral Flexion Induced Axial Rotation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) -- Analysis of Symmetry of Vertebral Body Loading Consequent to Lateral Spinal Curvature -- Vertebral Wedging due to Asymmetric Loading -- The Rib Vertebral Angle Asymmetry in Idiopathic, Neuromuscular and Experimentally Induced Scoliosis -- Lower Extremity Dysmetria, Scoliosis, Low Back Pain and Spondylolysis