Frontal Release Signs

Question 1

Provide examples of infant reflexes which persist into adulthood?

Answer 1

BLINKING AT BRIGHT LIGHT
GAGGING (when throat stimulated)
COUGHING (when airway stimulated)

Question 2

Absent reflexes, reflexes present at inappropriate ages, or redevelopment of infantile reflex could be a sign of what?

Answer 2

NS PROBLEM(S)

Question 3

As brain matures (usually) frontal lobes exert an ___________ effect causing infantile reflex to disappear.

Answer 3

INHIBITORY

Question 4

When disease processes disrupt inhibitory pathways and infantile reflexes are “released” from inhibition (disinhibition), what is this type of reflex called?

Answer 4

FRONTAL RELEASE SIGN

Question 5

Name the reflex elicited when the head of a relaxed infant, lying on his back, is rotated to the side?

Answer 5

TONIC NECK REFLEX

Question 6

What is the general appearance of the tonic neck reflex?

Answer 6

ONE ARM EXTENDED STRAIGHT OUT
(hand partially open)
HEAD FACING SAME DIRECTION ^^^
OTHER ARM FLEXED/FIST CLENCHED
(the baseball catch reference)

Question 7

True or False

The tonic neck reflex occurs only with the infant’s face to the left.

Answer 7

FALSE

Reversing the direction the face is turned reverses the position.

Question 8

Name the reflex elicited by placing a finger in the infant’s open palm?

Answer 8

GRASP REFLEX

Question 9

What is the general appearance of the grasp reflex?

Answer 9

HAND WILL CLOSE AROUND FINGER

Question 10

What will happen if you try to remove your finger from a grasp reflex?

Answer 10

GRIP WILL TIGHTEN

Question 11

Grasp reflex is seen in full force in which animal family?

Answer 11

MONKEYS

Question 12

Grasp reflex is most clinically associated with conditions such as dementia, where the _________ lobe is compromised.

Answer 12

FRONTAL

Question 13

Name the reflex elicited by stroking the cheek?

Answer 13

ROOTING REFLEX

Question 14

What is the general appearance of the rooting reflex?

Answer 14

INFANT WILL TURN TOWARD SIDE STROKED
+
BEGIN MAKING SUCKING MOTIONS WITH MOUTH

Question 15

Name the reflex elicited by holding the newborn in ventral suspension (face down) and stroking along one side of the spine?

Answer 15

GALANT REFLEX

Question 16

What is the general appearance of the galant reflex?

Answer 16

LATERAL FLEXION TOWARD STIMULATED SIDE

Question 17

Name the reflex often tested in newborns to rule out brain damage at birth?

Answer 17

GALANT REFLEX

Question 18

Name the reflex involved in suckling?

Answer 18

SNOUT REFLEX

Question 19

What is the general appearance of the snout reflex?

Answer 19

GENTLE PRESSURE to PHILTRUM INVOKES POUTING or PURSING of the LIPS

Question 20

Name the reflex (sometimes) present when the thenar eminence is stroked and ipsilateral mentalis contracts?

Answer 20

PALMO-MENTAL REFLEX

Question 21

What MAY the palmo-mental reflex alert the clinician to the possibility of?

Answer 21

CEREBRAL PATHOLOGY

though unreliable

Question 22

Name the reflex which may protect the eyes in certain situations?

Answer 22

GLABELLAR TAP REFLEX

Question 23

What is the general appearance of the glabellar reflex?

Answer 23

TAPPED REPETITIVELY AT 1 SEC INTERVALS

MOST BLINK RESPONSES EXTINGUISH AFTER A SHORT NUMBER OF TAPS

Question 24

What type of extrapyramidal disorder can an absent Glabellar reflex indicate?

Answer 24

PARKINSON’S DISEASE