Primitive Reflexes

Question 1

Rooting Reflex

Answer 1

Onset/Integration:
Appear @ 28W G
Go Away @ 3 M

Stimulus:
Touch or stroke baby’s cheek/mouth/lip area

Purpose/ Response:
Baby’s head turns towards mouth to locate food

Question 2

Suck Swallow

Answer 2

Onset/Integration:
Appear 28 W G
Go away @ 2-5 M

Stimulus:
Place finger inside baby’s mouth

Purpose/ Response:
strong & rhythmic sucking, important for eating

Question 3

Traction

Answer 3

Onset/Integration:
Appears 28 W G
Go away @ 2-5 M

Stimulus:
Pull baby up by forearms & pull to sit

Purpose/Response:
head lag/total flexion of UE, crucial for grasping

Question 4

Moro

Answer 4

Onset/Integration:
Appear @ 28 W G
Go away @ 4-6 M

Stimulus:
Rapidly drop babies head backwards

Purpose/Response:
startle reflex; stop baby from falling

Question 5

Plantar

Answer 5

Onset/Integration:
Appears @ 28 W G
Go away @ 9 M

Stimulus:
Apply pressure with thumb to ball of foot, toes should curl
Babinskis sign (+) is bad

Purpose/Response:
Planting feet to stand, prepares baby for standing & increases tactile stim

Question 6

Palmar

Answer 6

Onset/Integration:
Appear @ 28 W G
Go Away @ 4-6 M

Stimulus:
Place finger in babies palm & apply pressure/tough/stroke

Purpose/Response:
Reflexive grasp, finger flexion, prepares for voluntary grasp

Question 7

Galant (spinal)

Answer 7

Onset/Integration:
Appear @ 32 W G
Go away @ 4-6 M

Stimulus:
Hold baby in prone suspension & stroke 1 side of spine from neck down to bottom

Purpose/Response:
crucial for crawling; lateral trunk flexion on stimulated sides

Question 8

ATNR (Fencer)

Answer 8

Onset/Integration:
Appears @ 37 W G
Go Away @ 4-6 M

Stimulus:
Supine, turn head to 1 side & hold 5 seconds

Purpose/Response:
Extend arms on face side, flex arms on skull side; promotes eye hand coordiation (if not present)

Question 9

STNR

Answer 9

Onset/Integration:
Appears @ 4-6 M
Go Away @ 8-12 M

Stimulus:
1→place in crawling position & flex head
2→ place in crawling position with extended head

Purpose/Response:
precursor to crawling
1→ arms flexed & legs extended
2→ arms extended & legs bent

Question 10

tonic labyrinth reflex

Answer 10

Onset/Integration:
Appear @ birth
Go away @ 6 M

Stimulus:
None

Purpose/Response:
Prone→ flexor tone
Supine → extensor tone