Primitive Reflexes
Original Editor - Kakshya Rupakheti Top Contributors - Muskan Rastogi, Kakshya Rupakheti, Naomi O'Reilly and Trista Chan
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]
1.Cortical Reflex
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
- Negative supporting
- Equilibrium reflexes- Side tilting- Forward tilting- backward tilting
4.Spinal Reflexes
- Flexor withdrawal
- Extensor thrust
- Crossed extension
- Moro
- Startle
Types of Primitive Reflexes[edit | edit source]
1.General Body reflexes
- Moro Reflex
- 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
- Rooting Reflex
- Sucking Reflex
- Swallowing Reflex
- Gag Reflex
- Cry Reflex
4. Other Reflexes
- Amphibian Reflex
- Swimming /Diving Reflex
- Glabellar Tap Reflex
- Palmomental Reflex
- Snout Reflex
- Corneomandibular Reflex
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Schott JM, Rossor MN. The grasp and other primitive reflexes. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2003 May 1;74(5):558-60.
- ↑ Zafeiriou DI. Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination. Pediatric neurology. 2004 Jul 1;31(1):1-8.
