Reflexes

Question 1

Moro

Answer 1

Stimulus: sudden neck extension
Response: shoulder abd; shoulder, elbow, finger ext followed by arm flexion adduction
Age of suppression: 4-6 months

Question 2

Startle

Answer 2

Stimulus: Sudden noise, clapping
Response: Same as moro
Age of suppression: 4-6 months

Question 3

Rooting

Answer 3

Stimulus: Stroking lips or around mouth
Response: moving mouth, head toward stimulus in search of nipple
Age of suppression: 4 months

Question 4

Positive supporting

Answer 4

Stimulus: Light pressure or weight bearing on plantar surface
Response: legs extend for partial support of WB
Age of suppression: 3-5 months replaced by volitional WB c support

Question 5

Asymmetric tonic neck

Answer 5

Stimulus: Head turning to side
Response: Extremities extend on face side, flex on occiput side
Age of suppression: 6-7 months

Question 6

Symmetric tonic neck

Answer 6

Stimulus: neck flexion / neck extension
Response: arms flex, legs extend / arms extend, legs flex
Age of suppression: 6-7 months

Question 7

Palmar grasp

Answer 7

Stimulus: Touch or pressure on palm or stretching finger flexors
Response: extension of all fingers, hand fisting
Age of suppression: 5-6 months

Question 8

Plantar grasp

Answer 8

Stimulus: Pressure on sole distal to metatarsal heads
Response: Flexion of all toes
Age of suppression: 12-14 months when walking is achieved

Question 9

Automatic neonatal walking

Answer 9

Stimulus: On vertical support plantar contact and passive tilting of body forward and side to side
Response: Alternating automatic steps with support
Age of suppression: 3-4 months

Question 10

Placement or placing

Answer 10

Stimulus: Tactile contact on dorsum of foot or hand
Response: extremity flexion to place hand or foot over obstacle
Age of suppression: before end of first year

Question 11

Neck righting or body derotational

Answer 11

Stimulus: Neck rotation in supine
Response: Sequential body rotation from shoulder to plecis toward direction of face
Age of suppression: 4 months, replaced by volitional rolling

Question 12

Tonic labryinthine

Answer 12

Stimulus: Head position in space, strongest at 45 deg from horizontal
Response: Supine: predominant extensor tone; prone: predominant flexor tone
Age of suppression: 4-6 months

Question 13

Head righting

Answer 13

Stimulus: visual and vestibular
Response: Align face/head vertical, mouth horizontal
Age of emergence: Prone - 2 months; supine - 3-4 months

Question 14

Head and body righting

Answer 14

Stimulus: tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive
Response: align body parts in anatomic position relative to each other and gravity
Age of emergence: 4-6 months

Question 15

Protective extension or parachute reaction

Answer 15

Stimulus: Displacement of center of gravity outside supporting base in sitting or standing
Response: extension or abduction of lateral extremity toward displacement to prevent fall
Age of emergence: sitting anterior- 5-7 months; lateral- 6 to 8 months; posterior- 7 to 8 months; standing - 12 to 14 months

Question 16

Equilibrium or tilting reaction

Answer 16

Stimulus: displacement of center of gravity
Response: adjustment of tone and posture of trunk to maintain balance
Age of emergence: sitting: 6-8 months; standing: 12-14 months

Question 17

Flexor withdrawal reflex

Answer 17

stimulus: noxious stimulus on sole
response: ipsilateral toe extension, ankle DF, total LE flexion
age of onset: birth
age. of suppression: 2-3 months

Question 18

cross extension response

Answer 18

stimulus: noxious stimulus on ball of foot
response: contralateral total LE flexion, adduction, extension
age of onset: birth
age of suppression: 2-3 months

Question 19

traction response

Answer 19

stimulus: passive pull at the forearm
response: rigid UE flexion, good head control
age of onset: birth
age of suppression: 2-3 months

Question 20

trunk incurvation reflex

Answer 20

stimulus: deep moving pressure neck –> sacrum
response: ipsilateral trunk lateral flexion