baby reflexes

Question 1

onset: prenatal
integration: 6 months
position: prone and supine
procedure: child in prone, lift head, evaluate flexor tone, child in supine, pull to sit, extensor tone
response: prone, flexor tone (child will not life head)
supine, extensor tone dominates, child will not flex in pull to sit
significance: persistence will preclude ability to roll and develop antigravity behaviors

Answer 1

tonic labyrinth reflex

Question 2

onset: birth to 2 mo.
integration: persists through life
position: hold child vertically under the arms, tilting child in space
procedure: tilt child’s body in all directions
response: head orients to vertical position and is steady, proper orientation to environment
significance: prohibit antigravity beahviors, starting before landaeu reflex

Answer 2

labyrinthine righting reaction

Question 3

onset: birth to 2 mo.
integration: 4-11 mo.
position: supine
procedure: place index into infant’s hands w pressure over metacarpal heads
significance: voiltional reach and graps

Answer 3

palmar grasp

Question 4

onset: prenatal
integration: 9 mo.
position: place child supine w head in midline and legs relaxed
procedure: firm pressure against volar aspect of foot, below toes
response: plantar flexion of toes
significance: immature attempt to maintain stability, should disppaer in standing, coinciding w mature postural equilibrium

Answer 4

plantar grasp

Question 5

onset: prenatal
integration: 3 mo.
position: supine
procedure: stroke corner of mouth
response: infant turns head toward, open mouth sometimes
signficance: rarely absent when infant is not satiated, absense can be CNS depression

Answer 5

rooting reflex

Question 6

onset: prenatal
integration: 2-5 mo.
poistion: place child supine
procedure: grasp child’s wrists and pull toward position
response: flexion of shoulders, wrists, fingers, and elbows
significance: persistance will inhibit voluntary use of arms

Answer 6

traction response

Question 7

onset: prenator
integration: 5-6 mo.
position: supine
procedure: support infant’s head and shoulders w hands, allow head to drop back
response: abduction of upper extremites, followed by adduction, flexion of elbows
signficance: indicate of neurologic abnoramlity

Answer 7

moro reflex

Question 8

onset: prenatal
integration: end of 3rd postnatal month
position: prone, over hand
procedure: stroke w pressure along paravertebral line
response: trunk curves w shortening on stimulated side
signficance: early eval of spina bifida

Answer 8

galant’s response (incurvation of trunk)

Question 9

onset: prenatal
integration: 2nd trimster as mature neck righting develops
position: place child supine w head in midline
procedure: lift and turn child’s head to side
response: child body followes like a log, nonsegmentally
signficance: persists during spasticity

Answer 9

neonatal neck righting

Question 10

onset: birth to 2 mo.
integration: 4-6 mo.
position: supine
procedure: have child turn head to one side
response: extension of arm and leg where face it turned, en guard fencing position
signficance: eye and hand coordination

Answer 10

ATNR

Question 11

onset: arms birth, legs prenatal
integration: 3rd postnatal mo.
position: hold upright, vertical suspension
procedure: brush dorsum of child’s hand or foot against tabletop
response: limb lifts in flexion, then extension
signficance: CNS damage

Answer 11

placing reacitons (arms + legs)

Question 12

onset: prenator
integration: 3rd postnatal mo.
position: supine, legs relaxed
procedure: noxious stimuli, pinprick to sole of foot
response: stimulated leg reacts w flexion at hip, knee, ankle, withdrawing the extremity
signficance: total withdrawal

Answer 12

flexor withdrawal

Question 13

onset: prenatal
integration: 3rd postnatal month
position: supine
procedure: hold one leg straight, apply firm pressure or noxious stimuli to sole of foot
response: flexion, adduction, and then extension of opposite leg
signficance: spinal cord neural networks that lay foundation for reciprocal locomotion patterns

Answer 13

crossed extension

Question 14

onset: prenatal
integration: 3rd postnatal mo.
position: support infant in vertical suspension w hands under arms around trunk
procedure: allow feet ot make contact w surface
response: co-contraction of LE muscles, limb support min. body weight
signficance: indicates normal muscle tone

Answer 14

neonatal positive supporting

Question 15

onset: birth
integration: 3rd postnatal mo.
position: support child in vertical suspension
procedure: hold infant upright in vertical suspenion, touching feet to support surface, lean infant over slightly to elicit stepping
response:
signficance: may persist, as in spastic diplegia

Answer 15

spontaneous stepping