Developmental Reflexes

Question 0

S: From supported, semi-reclined position, allow head to drop back suddenly 20-30 deg…

Answer 0

R: Ext/abd of UE followed by flex/add of UE and a cry

“Moro”

Question 1

S: Stroke the (a) lateral, (b) lower, or (c) perioral area, from mouth outward…

Answer 1

R: (a) mouth opens and head turns toward stimulated side; (b) mouth opens, jaw drops; (c) mouth opens and head lifts
“Rooting”

Question 2

S: Grasp both wrists or hands and begin to pull-to-sit…

Answer 2

R: Clenching of fists, inc tone in stretched muscles

“Traction”

Question 3

S: Touch/pressure to palm of hand…

Answer 3

R: Fisting

“Palmar Grasp”

Question 4

S: Pressure to ball of foot…

Answer 4

R: Curling of toes

“Plantar Grasp”

Question 5

S: Fast stroke to medial sole of foot of extended leg with fingernails…

Answer 5

R: Entire limb flexes

“Flexor Withdrawal”

Question 6

S: Hold 1 leg in ext at knee then apply firm pressure to ball of foot…

Answer 6

R: Flex, add, then ext of opposite leg (kick me away)

“Crossed Extension”

Question 7

S: Sudden pressure to the ball of foot with leg flexed…

Answer 7

R: Same leg ext, add, and IR (push me away)

“Extensor Thrust”

Question 8

S: With subject vertical, allow firm contact of feet with surface…

Answer 8

R: Partial weight-bearing in semi-flexed position

“Neonatal Positive Support”

Question 9

S: Support subject in vertical position under arms; incline trunk forward with feet on surface…

Answer 9

R: Several reciprocal steps will be taken

“Spontaneous Stepping”

Question 10

S: Prone lying- (a) stroke 1 in from spine, from shoulder to butt, or (b) stroke from spine laterally at waist…

Answer 10

R: Lateral flex of trunk or skin wrinkling toward stimulated side
“Galant”

Question 11

S: Turn head to one side…

Answer 11

R: Body follows in log-roll fashion

“Neonatal Neck on Body Righting”

Question 12

S: Flex knee and rotate pelvis to one side…

Answer 12

R: Head and upper trunk follow in log-roll fashion

“Neonatal Body on Body Righting”

Question 13

S: Subject in vertical position-Lean forward and “scrape” dorsum of hand or foot on edge…

Answer 13

R: Subject lifts limb, extends wrist or dorsiflexes ankle, and places palm or sole on surface to bear weight
“Proprioceptice Placing”

Question 14

S: Passively feel for resistance in (a) supine, (b) prone, (c) side-lying, and (d) inverted with trunk in line with head; observe mvmt against gravity…

Answer 14

R: (a) Inc ext tone=resists passive flex; (b) Inc flex tone=resists passive ext; (c) inc ext tone in wt-bearin limbs; (d) inc ext tone
“Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex”

Question 15

S: Rotate head to one side and wait a few sec; note passive resistance (if subtle, may need to palpate)…

Answer 15

R: Fencing posture-inc ext in limbs of face side, inc flex in limbs of skull side
“Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex”

Question 16

S: (1) Flex neck on trunk and hold for a few sec, (2) Hyperextend neck on trunk and hold; may be in prone or quadruped…

Answer 16

R: (1) Flex on UEs, ext of LEs=cat peering into fish tank; (2) Ext of UEs, flex of LEs=cat looking up in tree
“Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex”

Question 17

S: (1) Ask to squeeze toy hard, or try to pull toy from them (2) 4+ y.o. Ask to rapidly pron/sup forearm and slap thigh or thumb to finger opposition…

Answer 17

R: (1) Opposite limb will mirror; (2) Inc in speed may see extraneous mvmts of opp limb or clumsy
“Associated Movements/Reactions”

Question 18

S: Blindfolded and in vertical suspension or sitting, tilt ant, post, and to each side…

Answer 18

R: Head orients to vertical position; will align trunk if far tilt
“Labyrinthine Head Righting”

Question 19

S: Vertical suspension, tilt ant, post, and to each side…

Answer 19

R: Rights head and trunk in relationship to environment

“Optical Righting”

Question 20

S: Horizontal suspension, supported only at abdomen or over lap…

Answer 20

R: Head raises, chain of ext responses with shoulders, back, hips, and knees (airplane)
“Landau”

Question 21

S: Rotate hip across body in (1) prone blindfolded or (2) side-lying…

Answer 21

R: (1) Lifts head; (2) Lifts trunk then aligns head with body
“Body Righting Acting on Head”

Question 22

S: Rotate head to one side…

NOB

Answer 22

R:

Question 23

S: Flex hip, rotate across body (asymmetrical contact of body on surface)…

Answer 23

R: Upper trunk and head follow segmentally

“Body Righting Acting on the body”

Question 24

S: Prone, LEs ext, lift pelvis on one side…

Answer 24

R: Flexion of extremities on same side

“Amphibian”

Question 25

S: Lower toward surface, but with no tactile input…

Answer 25

R: Lifts limb, ext wrist or dorsiflexes ankle, and places palm or sole on surface
“Visual Placing”

Question 26

S: In prone, plunge head towards surface or apply perturbation in forward, back, or side direction…

Answer 26

R: Ext appropriate UE to catch self from falling

“Protective Extension-UE”

Question 27

S: In vertical position, plunge feet towards surface…

Answer 27

R: Knee ext with hip abd and IR and dorsiflexion

“Protective Extension-LE”

Question 28

S: In standing, push in all directions…

Answer 28

R: Steps to catch self in appropriate direction

“Protective Staggering”

Question 29

S: On moveable surface, tilt surface slowly in all directions…

Answer 29

R: Lateral flex of trunk to “up” side; head will turn to up side; limbs of up side will ext and abd
“Tilting”

Question 30

S: Apply external force to the subject (feedforward)…

Answer 30

R: Exerts appropriate counterbalance forces to the external forces applied to the body to maintain balance
“Postural Fixation”

Question 31

S: Loud noise…

Answer 31

R: Ext/abd of UEs followed by flex/add of UEs and a cry

“Startle”