Primitive Reflexes Flashcards
Moro Reflex:
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Absence could mean…
Present at birth
Disappears at 4-6mo
Hold infant horizontally on their back and let the head drop slightly or produce a sudden loud sound against the surface.
Absence: CNS injury (Bilateral), birth trauma, erb’s palsy (unilateral)
Walking or stepping reflex:
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Present at birth
Disappears by 6 weeks; reappears voluntarily at 8-12mo
Soles of feet touch a flat surface.
Rooting reflex
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Present at birth
Disappears by 4-6mo as it comes under voluntary control
Sucking reflex
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Present at birth
Comes under voluntary control
Asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR) “fencing”
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Absence could mean…
Present at birth to 1mo
Disappears by 4-6mo.
Turn child’s head to R, and R arm with straighten while opposite arm will bend. Sometimes very slight/subtle.
Present past 6mo = UMN disorder
Precursor of hand/eye coordination and preps for reaching. MUST disappear for developmental progression (needs to disappear in order to roll over)
Palmar grasp reflex
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Present at birth
Disappears at 4-6mo
Plantar reflex aka Babinski
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Absence could mean…
Present at birth until 1yr.
Normal is plantar flexion. - toes curl in away from the shin.
Abnormal could mean interruption of UMN control over flexion circuit.
Galant reflex
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Present at birth
Disappears 4-6mo
Stroke skin along side of back and they will curl towards the side stroked.
Parachute reflex
Appears 8-10mo before the onset of walking and never disappears although you can be trained to ignore it (football players).
When does head lag disappear?
4mo
Landau reflex
Appears? Disappears? Elicit by:
Absence could mean…
“Superman”
Appears 4-5mo and disappears 15mo-2years.
If infant is supported on abdomen head and legs will extend above the plane of trunk.
