Reflexes Flashcards
What are Primitive reflexes?
Spinal reflexes- numbers that babies are born with
Primitive reflexes: Galant Reflex
Stimulus- stroke spine in downward motion while infant lies on stomach
Response- infant will twitch their hips towards the touch in a dancing movement
Time- in utero (20 weeks) and disappears at 3-9 months
Significance: helps in birthing process, also encourages movement and develop ROM to prep for crawling and walking
Primitive reflexes: Crawl reflex
Stimulus: prone position (skin to skin on mother) on the tummy
Response: Pull their legs under their body and kick them out in a crawling motion
Time: at birth, disappears by 12 weeks
Significance: This reflex will help a newborn crawl to the breast right after delivery when lying on their mother’s abdomen.
Primitive reflexes: Rooting reflex
Stimulus: stroking or touching corner of mouth, or cheek/lips
Response: face turns towards the side- cheek towards breast side
Time: appears at birth and disappears by 12 weeks
Significance: feeding process of the baby
Primitive reflexes: sucking reflex
Stimulus: introduce finger to mouth
Response: sucking action of the lips and jaw
Time: appears at birth and disappears around 3-4 months
Significance: breastfeeding
Primitive reflexes: Moro (startle) reflex
Stimulus: position- supine and back of head supported above table. Drop the head backwards associated with a loud sound
Response: abduction and extension of the arms (as in embrace) often associated by a cry
Time: appears 9 weeks in utero- fully present at birth and disappears at 3-4 months
Significance: survival reflex, give extra info- if one limb responding- something wrong
Primitive reflexes: babinski reflex
Stimulus: stroke lateral aspect of the foot from the heel to the base of the great toe
Response: fanning of all 5 toes, extension of hallux
Time: appears at birth, integrates at 1-2 years
Significance: shows CNS is in tact- positive sign commonly seen in babies <2 years of age
Primitive reflexes: Flexor withdrawal
Stimulus: position- supine, head mid position, noxious stimuli to sole of the foot
Response: uncontrolled flexion response of the stimulated leg
Time: appears at birth- integrates at 1-2 months
Significance: upper protective response
Primitive reflexes: Crossed extension
stimulus: position- supine, head mid position leg extended- noxious stimuli to the ball of the foot
Response: opposite lower extremity adducts and extends + foot goes into PF
Time: usually is only present until one month of age
Significance: to maintain BOS, enhance postural support during withdrawal of the affected limb from the painful stimulus.
Primitive reflexes: Stepping reflex
Stimulus: support infant by holding around their thorax and place feet flat on a surface
Response: alternating steps forward are observed (hip/knee flexion, ankle DF)
Time: appears at birth, disappears by 6 months
Significance: babies brain understands the motions they’ll eventually need to walk
Primitive reflexes: Grasp reflex
Stimulus: Press finger or other suitable object into palm from ulnar side
Response: fingers flex and grip the object
Time: appears at birth, disappears by 12 weeks
Significance: good indication of spasticity or prolonged retention of reflex- something going on neurologically
What are tonic reflexes?
They are brainstem reflexes
Tonic reflexes: Tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR)
stimulus: change of orientation of the head in space; position head in relation to gravity while prone and supine
Response: prone- flexion of all limbs as they try to lift head supine- extension of all limbs as head is moved backwards
Time: appears at birth and disappears at 2-4 months
Significance: thought to help the infant with newfound challenge of gravity
Primitive reflexes: Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Stimulus: position- supine lying, head in mid position, arms and legs extended
Response: increase in extensor tone on face side and increase in flexor tone on the skull side
Time: appears at birth and disappears at 6 months
Significance: able to perform one sided movement that go together with proper hand eye coordination and if impaired= can’t horse ride and roll due to extension of the arm
What are midbrain/cortical reactions?
Happen after 1 year, consist of righting reactions, equilibrium reactions + protective extension
Primitive reflexes: Symmetrical Tonic Neck reflexes (STNR)
Stimulus: position= supine lying, head in mid position, arms and legs extended- flexion or extension of the head
Response: Flexion of the head= arms flex and legs extend, extension of the head= arms extend and legs flex
Time: emerges after ATNR (6-9 months) and disappears after 9-11 months
Significance: preps baby for crawling on all 4’s
Righting reactions=
NOB, BOB, BOH, Labyrinthine head righting
Neck on Body (NOB)
Stimulus: passive turning of the head to one side in supine
Response: log rolling towards the same side to align with head
Time: appears at 6 months and disappears at 5 years once they master skill
Significance: baby will logroll
Body on Head (BOH)
Stimulus: positioning baby either supine or prone
Response: baby tends to arrange by keeping head vertical and mouth horizontal- will always maintain original alignment
Time: appears at 2 months and disappears at 5 years
Significance: develop posture and movement, important for head control in relation to body in all positions
Body on Body (BOB)
Stimulus: passive turning of the trunk (upper/lower) to one side in supine lying position
Response: log rolling of the corresponding (upper/lower) segment towards the same side
Time: appears at 6 months, disappears at 5 years
Significance: keeps body oriented to ground- develop rotary components
Labyrinthine Head Righting
Stimulus: Position baby in supine with your hands around thorax, tilt them 30 degrees into flexion/extension, side flexion, bringing them back to midline between positions- from 8 months face a blank wall to avoid visual cueing
Response: head should correct immediately back to upright position
Time: appears at birth and normally persists
Significance: head control as baby moves in space, allows child to lift head in prone or supine
Equilibrium reactions=
tilting and postural fixation
Tilting
Stimulus: alter the COG by shifting the surface by placing the baby in different positions
Response: extension and adduction of supporting extremity and flexion and abduction of other side
Time: prone (4-6 months), supine (6-8 months), sitting (6-8 months) quadripod (10-12 months) standing 12-21 months) and persists
Significance: to make postural adjustments, maintain stability under conditions of instability of supporting base
Postural Fixation
Stimulus: alter the COG by slow force on the normal surface by placing the baby in different positions- pushing to one side
Response: extension and adduction of supporting extremity, flexion and abduction of other side
Time: same as tilting and doesn’t disappear
Significance: based on how the baby is maturing
Protective extension=
Parachute reflex
Parachute reflex
Stimulus: hold infant firmly with both hands around the trunk- rapidly top child towards floor
Response: swift flexion of shoulders and extension of elbow, wrist and fingers with slight shoulder ER
Time: appears at 9 months and normally persists
Significance: protect from injury during loss of balance- whole body response to instability
