Pathological Reflexes

Question 1

What reflex is tested by a sharp forcible flick of the Dr’s thumb against the patient’s middle finger? If the patient’s fingers flex and the their thumb adducts, What does this indicate?

Answer 1

Hoffman Sign;

UMNL

Question 2

T/F: Hoffman sign indicates a lesion above C5 in the Spinothalamic tract.

Answer 2

False; above C5 in the CORTICOSPINAL tract

Question 3

T/F: A Positive Tromner sign indicates a lesion below C5 in the Corticospinal tract.

Answer 3

False; above C5

Question 4

What reflex is tested by tapping the volar surface of the middle finger? A positive would show flexion of the fingers and adduction of the thumb. What type of lesion is indicated?

Answer 4

Tromner sign;

UMNL

Question 5

T/F: Positive Tromner and Hoffman signs indicate UMNLs.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What reflex is tested by tapping the ball of the foot or the tips of the toes and would result in plantar flexion of the toes? What type of lesion is indicated?

Answer 6

Rossolimo Sign of the Foot;

UMNL

Question 7

What reflex is tested by stroking the lateral malleolus from heel to toe?

Answer 7

Chaddock sign

Question 8

T/F: When assessing for a Chaddock sign, the foot should not move in healthy patient.

Answer 8

True; abnormal shows dorsiflexion of the great toe and flaring of the other toes.

Question 9

What type of lesion is indicated by a positive Chaddock sign?

Answer 9

UMNL

Question 10

What reflex is tested by stroking the tibial surface from superior to inferior?

Answer 10

Oppenheim sign

Question 11

T/F: When assessing for an Oppenheim sign, the patient’s great toe should dorsiflex and the other toes should flare.

Answer 11

False; this is the abnormal finding. Normally, the foot/toes should not move

Question 12

What reflex is assessed by squeezing the calf?

Answer 12

Gordon Sign

Question 13

An UMNL can cause a positive Gordon sign. What does that look like?

Answer 13

dorsiflexion of the great toe and flaring of the other toes; normally the foot/toes won’t move during the exam

Question 14

What sign/reflex is assessed by squeezing the achilles tendon?

Answer 14

Schaefer Sign

Question 15

T/F: An abnormal finding when testing for the Babinski, Chaddock, Oppenheim, Gordon, and/or Schaefer signs would be dorsiflexion of the great toe and flaring of the other toes. This would indicate a LMNL.

Answer 15

False; this is the common abnormal finding but it indicates an UMNL

Question 16

What spinal tract is indcated by an abnormal response when testing for any of these pathological reflexes?

Answer 16

CORTICOSPINAL TRACT