Primitive Reflexes: Difference between revisions

(added clinical relevance)
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'''''3.Brainstem Reflex'''''
'''''3.Brainstem Reflex'''''


* Tonic neck reflexes - ATNR- STNR
* Tonic neck reflexes - [[Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex|ATNR]]- STNR
* Static labyrinthine
* Static labyrinthine
* Positive Supporting Reactions
* Positive Supporting Reactions
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* Extensor thrust
* Extensor thrust
* Crossed extension  
* Crossed extension  
* Plantar Grasp
* [[Plantar Grasp Reflex|Plantar Grasp]]
* Palmar grasp
* Palmar grasp
* Sucking Reflex
* [[Sucking Reflex]]
* Rooting Reflex
* [[Rooting Reflex]]
* Walking/ Stepping Reflex
* Walking/ Stepping Reflex


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'''1.General Body reflexes'''
'''1.General Body reflexes'''


* Moro Reflex
* [[Moro Reflex]]


* Startle Reflex
* Startle Reflex

Revision as of 17:16, 21 June 2022


Introduction[edit | edit source]

Also called Neonatal Reflexes, the primitive reflexes are the reflex actions arising from Central Nervous System (CNS) that are typically present in childhood but not present in healthy or neurological intact adults, in response to a particular stimulus. During normal development, these reflexes are slowly inhibited by the frontal lobe of the brain as the age progresses .[1] The motor responses arising from CNS are inhibited by 4 to 6 months of age as the brain matures and replaces them with voluntary motor activities but certain neurological diseases can relapse.[2]

Level Classification of Primitive Reflexes[edit | edit source]

The reflexes are classified according to at the level they are controlled at

1.Cortical Reflex

Equilibrium reactions

2.Midbrain Reflex

  • Kinetic Labyrinthine
  • Superior semi-circular canal
  • Posterior semi-circular canal
  • Body righting acting on head
  • Body righting acting on body
  • Optical righting reflex
  • Labyrinthine righting reflex
  • Amphibian reflex
  • Protective extension
  • Parachute reflex

3.Brainstem Reflex

  • Tonic neck reflexes - ATNR- STNR
  • Static labyrinthine
  • Positive Supporting Reactions
  • Negative Supporting Reactions

4.Spinal Reflexes

  • Flexor withdrawal

Types of Primitive Reflexes[edit | edit source]

1.General Body reflexes

  • Startle Reflex
  • Plantar Grasp Reflex
  • Palmar Grasp reflex
  • Walking/ Stepping Reflex
  • Limb Placement Reflex
  • Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex
  • Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex
  • Babinski Reflex
  • Babkin Reflex
  • Parachute Reflex
  • Landau's Reaction/Reflex
  • Withdrawal Reflex
  • Galant Reflex/ Trunk Incurvation Reflex
  • Tendon Reflex
  • Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex
  • Flexor Withdrawal
  • Crossed Extensor Reflex

2. Facial Reflexes

  • Nasal Reflex
  • Blink Reflex
  • Doll's Eye Reflex
  • Auditory Orienting Reflex
  • Pupillary Reflex

3. Oral Reflexes

4. Other Reflexes

  • Amphibian Reflex
  • Swimming /Diving Reflex
  • Glabellar Tap Reflex
  • Palmomental Reflex
  • Snout Reflex
  • Corneomandibular Reflex

Clinical Relevance[edit | edit source]

  • These reflexes are used for performing neurological or pediatric assessment in both adults and children.
  • In Normal individuals most of the reflexes disintegrate as the age progresses, presence of of these reflexes in adults is considered abnormal.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Schott JM, Rossor MN. The grasp and other primitive reflexes. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2003 May 1;74(5):558-60.
  2. Zafeiriou DI. Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination. Pediatric neurology. 2004 Jul 1;31(1):1-8.