Neuromaturation and reflexes Flashcards
What are primitive reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are involuntary motor responses present in newborns that are later inhibited by higher brain centers as the nervous system matures
Why is it important to assess primitive reflexes?
It helps identify central nervous system (CNS) integrity in infants and young children.
Their persistence or absence may indicate neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy (CP)
Which structures control primitive reflexes?
Spinal Cord
Brainstem
Midbrain
Cortex
What is the Rooting Reflex and why is it important?
Stimulus: Stroke the baby’s lips towards the cheek.
Response: The baby turns toward the stimulus and opens the mouth.
Onset: 28 weeks gestation.
Integration: 4-6 months.
Importance: Essential for newborns to locate and latch onto a food source
What is the Sucking Reflex?
Stimulus: Touching the baby’s palate.
Response: The baby instinctively sucks.
Onset: 30-35 weeks gestation.
Integration: 2-5 months.
Importance: Vital for breastfeeding and swallowing coordination
What is the Moro Reflex?
Stimulus: A sudden loss of balance or loud noise.
Response: Abduction and extension of the arms followed by adduction.
Onset: 28 weeks gestation.
Integration: 5-6 months.
Clinical Significance: Persistence may indicate neurological issues
What is the Galant Reflex?
Stimulus: Stroking along the paravertebral muscles.
Response: The baby flexes laterally towards the stimulated side.
Onset: 32 weeks gestation.
Integration: 2 months
What is the Palmar Grasp Reflex?
Stimulus: Stimulation of the palm.
Response: The baby tightly grips an object.
Onset: Birth.
Integration: 0-6 months
What is the Plantar Grasp Reflex?
Stimulus: Stimulation of the sole of the foot.
Response: The baby curls its toes.
Onset: Birth.
Integration: 15 months (until weight-bearing begins)
What is the Landau Reflex?
Stimulus: Holding the baby horizontally in a prone position.
Response: The baby extends its head and arches its back.
Onset: 3 months.
Integration: 12-24 months
What are Righting Reactions?
Reflexes that help establish normal head-body relationships.
Allow the infant to roll over, sit up, and adopt a quadruped position.
Peak development: 10-12 months
What are Optical Righting Reactions?
Stimulus: Visual stimulus.
Response: The baby maintains visual contact while keeping body stability.
Integration: 3-4 years
What are Labyrinthine Reactions?
Stimulus: Changes in head position.
Response: The child maintains head-body alignment to stabilize gaze.
Present at: 6 months and continues throughout life
What is the Head-on-Body Reflex?
Stimulus: Turning the head.
Response: The body follows in the same direction.
Integration: 6 months
What is the Body-on-Body Reflex?
Stimulus: Turning the head.
Response: The shoulder girdle rotates first, followed by the pelvic girdle.
Integration: 6-18 months
What are Equilibrium Reactions?
Reflexes that allow the body to adapt to changes in the center of gravity.
Appear during different stages of development
At what age do Equilibrium Reactions emerge?
Prone: 6 months
Supine: 6 months
Four-Point Kneeling: 8 months
Sitting: 10-12 months
Standing: 15-18 months
What are Protective Reactions?
Forward Protective Reactions (4-5 months): Activated when falling forward.
Lateral Protective Reactions (5-6 months): Activated when tilted sideways.
Backward Protective Reactions (6-8 months): Activated when pushed backward
What happens if primitive reflexes persist beyond their expected integration period?
It may indicate neurological pathology such as cerebral palsy or brainstem abnormalities
What is the role of postural reflexes in motor development?
They replace primitive reflexes and enable voluntary movement and coordination
