Reflexes

Question 1

Abdominal reflex

Answer 1

T8-L1
Stroke briskly and lightly with a blunt object from each quadrant of the abdomen in a diagonal manner towards the umbilicus
Normal response: contraction of the abdominals and deviation of the umbilicus in the direction of stimulus

Question 2

Corneal blink reflex

Answer 2

Trigeminal and facial nerves
Stroke cornea with a piece of cotton
Both eyes will blink with contact to one eye

Question 3

Cremasteric reflex

Answer 3

L1-L2
Scratch skin of upper medial thigh
Brisk and brief elevation of testicle on ipsilateral side

Question 4

Gag reflex

Answer 4

Glossopharyngel and vagus nerves
Lightly stimulate each side of back of throat
Gag will occur post stimulation, may be absent in some percentage of normal population

Question 5

Plantar reflex

Answer 5

L5-S1
Stroke lateral aspect of sole of foot with blunt edge of reflex hammer from heel to ball of foot and medially to base of great toe
Normal response is flexion of toes
Babinski reflex is abnormal response

Question 6

Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex presentation

Answer 6

Stimulus: head turned to one side
Response: arm and leg on face side extended, arm and leg on scalp side flexed, spine curved with convexity towards face
Normal age of response: birth to 6 months

Question 7

Asymmetric tonic neck reflex interference

Answer 7

Feeding, visual tracking, midline use of hands, bilateral hand use, rolling, development of crawling.
Can lead to skeletal deformities, e.g. Scoliosis, hip subluxation, hip dislocation

Question 8

Symmetrical tonic neck reflex presentation

Answer 8

Stimulus: head position in flexion or extension
Response: when head in flexion, arms are flexed, legs are extended. When head in extension, arms are extended, legs are flexed
Normal age of response: 6-8 months

Question 9

Symmetrical tonic neck reflex interference

Answer 9

Ability to prop on arms in prone position, attaining and maintaining hands and knees position, crawling reciprocally, sitting balance when looking around, use of hands when looking at object in hands in sitting position

Question 10

Tonic labyrinthine reflex presentation

Answer 10

Stimulus: position of labyrinth in inner ear: reflected in head position
Response: in supine position, Body and extremities held in extension, in prone position, body and extremities held in flexion
Normal age of response: birth to 6 months

Question 11

Tonic labyrinthine reflex interference

Answer 11

Ability to initiate rolling, ability to prop on elbows with extended hips in prone, ability to flex trunk and hips to come to sitting position from supine.
Often causes full body extension which interfered with sitting or standing balance

Question 12

Galant reflex presentation

Answer 12

Stimulus: touch to skin along spine from shoulder to hip
Response: lateral flexion of trunk to side of stimulus
Normal age of response: 30 weeks gestation to 2 months

Question 13

Galant reflex interference

Answer 13

Development of sitting balance. Can lead to scoliosis

Question 14

Palmar grasp reflex presentation

Answer 14

Stimulus: pressure in Palm on ulnar side of hand
Response: flexion of fingers causing strong grip
Normal age of response: birth to 4 months

Question 15

Palmar grasp interference

Answer 15

Ability to grasp and release objects voluntarily. Weight bearing on open hand for propping, crawling and protective responses

Question 16

Plantar grasp presentation

Answer 16

Stimulus: pressure to base of toes
Response: toe flexion
Normal age of response: 28 weeks gestation to 9 months

Question 17

Plantar grasp interference

Answer 17

Ability to stand with feet flat on surface

Balance reactions and weight shifting in standing

Question 18

Rooting reflex presentation

Answer 18

Stimulus: touch on cheek
Response:turn head to same side with mouth open
Normal age of response: 28 weeks gestation to 3 months

Question 19

Rooting reflex interference

Answer 19

Oral motor development, development of midline control of head, optical righting, visual tracking and social interaction

Question 20

Moro reflex presentation

Answer 20

Stimulus: head dropping suddenly into a few inches of extension
Response: arms abduct with fingers open, then cross trunk into adduction. Cry
Normal age of response: 28 weeks gestation to 5 months

Question 21

Moro reflex interference

Answer 21

Balance reactions in sitting, protective responses in sitting, eye hand coordination, visual tracking

Question 22

Startle reflex presentation

Answer 22

Stimulus: loud, sudden noise
Response: similar to moro response but elbows remain flexed and hands closed
Normal age of response: 28 weeks of gestation to 5 months

Question 23

Startle reflex interference

Answer 23

Sitting balance, protective responses in sitting, eye hand coordination, visual tracking, social interaction, attention

Question 24

Positive support reflex presentation

Answer 24

Stimulus: weight placed in balls of feet when upright
Response: stiffening of legs and trunk into extension
Normal age of response: 35 weeks gestation to 2 months

Question 25

Positive support reflex interference

Answer 25

Standing and waking, balance reactions and weight shift into standing, can lead to plantar flexion contractures

Question 26

Walking (stepping) reflex presentation

Answer 26

Stimulus: supported upright position with soles of feet on firm surface
Response: reciprocal flexion and extension of legs
Normal age of response: 38 weeks of gestation to 2 months

Question 27

Walking (stepping) reflex interference

Answer 27

Standing and walking, balance reactions and weight shifting in standing, development of smooth coordinated reciprocal movements of lower extremities.