Primitive reflex Flashcards
1
Q
Primitive reflexes
A
- Rooting reflex
• Present at birth –> stimulate lip –> tongue moves to stimulus –> finger slides away –> head follows it
• Only easily elicited when baby is hungry - Sucking reflex
- Eye- Response to rotation
• when bb is propped up & spinned around 2-3 times –> eyeballs move in the direction of rotation –> Stopped spinning, eyes move in the opposite direction. Good to detect extra-ocular eye movement palsy - Grasp reflex
• At palm and sole
• 36 weeks –> 3 months
• Abnormal –> CP - Moro Reflex
• 28 weeks –> 3 months
• Abnormal –> Hypertonus / Hypotonia / paralysis (eg Erbs)
• DDx - Startle reflex: Flexion of elbow forwards, grasping of fingers (Elicited by sudden loud noise / sternal tap)
• Elicited by sudden movement of cervical spine (sudden extension of neck)
• • Abduction extension of arms - hands open, fingers curve
• • Adduction of arms (Embrace) - accompanied by crying, extension of trunk & movement of LLs - Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
• 1 month –> 3 months
• Abnormal –> CP - Walking reflex
• 40 weeks –> 2 months
• Abnormal in CP / paralysis of LLs
• Test - place bb on the table with sole pressed against the surface – repeated flexion / extension of LLs - Placing reflex
• 4th day –> 7 months
• Significance = walking reflex
• Text : Place the baby at the side of table with shin/ dorsum against the table edge –> leg raised & step onto table - Galant reflex
• Day 5 –> 7 months
• Abnormal in Hemisyndromes - Anal reflex
• S3, S4
• Present since birth - reflects sacral cord integrity - Cremasteric reflex
• L1, L2
• Present since day 10 - reflects sacral cord integrity - Abdominal reflex
• T7 to T12
• Present since 7 days old
• Absence may not mean spinal cord abnormal
• Only +ve –> Intact thoracic spinal cord - Righting reflex
• test: sole press on hard surface –> extension of leg and trunk - Crossed extension reflex
• Test: Extension of 1 leg –> flexion of the opposite leg, followed adduction and then extension - Parachute reflex
• Present from 6 - 9 months
• test: ventral suspension of baby –> sudden lowering of bb towards the couch –> arms extended - Abnormal in CP
c.f. Propping reflex - child sits –> tilted to one side / back –> arms extend in appropriate manner to protect child from falling - Landau reflex
• Present since 3 months, after 1 year - difficult to elicit
• Test: Ventral suspension of bb –> extension of head, UL and LL. Depressed head –> flexion of hip, knew and elbow
• Absent in - MR
- CP
- Hypotonia