Cobb angle

(kob)

[J.R. Cobb, 20th-cent. U.S. orthopedic surgeon]
The angle formed by the intersection of two lines drawn on a spinal radiograph of a person (usually a child or adolescent) suspected of having scoliosis. One line is drawn parallel to the lower surface of the lowest affected vertebral body, and the other is drawn parallel to the upper surface of the highest affected body. Angles of greater than 10% are diagnostic of scoliosis.