Lumbar has the following meanings in the field of medicine:

1. Pertaining to the loin, part of the back between the lowest pair of ribs of the thorax (chest) and the top of the pelvis. The pelvis is a massive bone made of hip bones on each side and the front, while the back part is made of the sacrum (a triangular bone) and coccyx (a beak shaped bone).

2. Pertaining to the part of the vertebrae (bones that form an opening in which the spinal cord passes) that are in the area of the loin (see above for description). There are five lumbar vertebrae, known as L1 through L5. The lumbar vertebrae are between the thoracic and sacral vertebrae. Sacral refers to the sacrum, which is discussed above.

3. Pertaining to sides next to the middle of the belly and above the ilium. The ilium is a large bone that makes up the upper part of the hip. Lumbar is most often used to refer to the first two meanings, listed above. Lumbar comes from the Latin word "lumbus" meaning "loin."

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