Frontal Release Signs Flashcards
Provide examples of infant reflexes which persist into adulthood?
BLINKING AT BRIGHT LIGHT
GAGGING (when throat stimulated)
COUGHING (when airway stimulated)
Absent reflexes, reflexes present at inappropriate ages, or redevelopment of infantile reflex could be a sign of what?
NS PROBLEM(S)
As brain matures (usually) frontal lobes exert an ___________ effect causing infantile reflex to disappear.
INHIBITORY
When disease processes disrupt inhibitory pathways and infantile reflexes are “released” from inhibition (disinhibition), what is this type of reflex called?
FRONTAL RELEASE SIGN
Name the reflex elicited when the head of a relaxed infant, lying on his back, is rotated to the side?
TONIC NECK REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the tonic neck reflex?
ONE ARM EXTENDED STRAIGHT OUT (hand partially open) HEAD FACING SAME DIRECTION ^^^ OTHER ARM FLEXED/FIST CLENCHED (the baseball catch reference)
True or False
The tonic neck reflex occurs only with the infant’s face to the left.
FALSE
Reversing the direction the face is turned reverses the position.
Name the reflex elicited by placing a finger in the infant’s open palm?
GRASP REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the grasp reflex?
HAND WILL CLOSE AROUND FINGER
What will happen if you try to remove your finger from a grasp reflex?
GRIP WILL TIGHTEN
Grasp reflex is seen in full force in which animal family?
MONKEYS
Grasp reflex is most clinically associated with conditions such as dementia, where the _________ lobe is compromised.
FRONTAL
Name the reflex elicited by stroking the cheek?
ROOTING REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the rooting reflex?
INFANT WILL TURN TOWARD SIDE STROKED
+
BEGIN MAKING SUCKING MOTIONS WITH MOUTH
Name the reflex elicited by holding the newborn in ventral suspension (face down) and stroking along one side of the spine?
GALANT REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the galant reflex?
LATERAL FLEXION TOWARD STIMULATED SIDE
Name the reflex often tested in newborns to rule out brain damage at birth?
GALANT REFLEX
Name the reflex involved in suckling?
SNOUT REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the snout reflex?
GENTLE PRESSURE to PHILTRUM INVOKES POUTING or PURSING of the LIPS
Name the reflex (sometimes) present when the thenar eminence is stroked and ipsilateral mentalis contracts?
PALMO-MENTAL REFLEX
What MAY the palmo-mental reflex alert the clinician to the possibility of?
CEREBRAL PATHOLOGY
though unreliable
Name the reflex which may protect the eyes in certain situations?
GLABELLAR TAP REFLEX
What is the general appearance of the glabellar reflex?
TAPPED REPETITIVELY AT 1 SEC INTERVALS
MOST BLINK RESPONSES EXTINGUISH AFTER A SHORT NUMBER OF TAPS
What type of extrapyramidal disorder can an absent Glabellar reflex indicate?
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
