Trishia Nhicole Ho Hene
BSN 2N
REFLEXES
 MORO / STARTLE REFLEX - typically
happens when a new born is startled by a
loud sound, quick movement, or bright
light.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts until
the baby is about 2 months old.
How to assess: To assess the Moro
reflex, a new born is gently placed in a
sitting position with their heads
supported. The person performing the
test allows the infant's head to fall
backwards a small amount before
catching it just in time to prevent it from
hitting the pillow or mat behind it. Then,
he will extend his arms and legs and
neck and then rapidly bring his arms
together.
Interpretation: Moro is a normal reflex
present in new born infants and
absence of the Moro reflex in an infant
is abnormal. Some of its causes are
infections, weakened muscles, birth
traumas, peripheral nerve injury, and
cerebral palsy with spastic movements.
 ROOTING REFLEX – it is used to get a latch
for breastfeeding.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about 4
months.
How to assess: To assess the Rooting
reflex, the baby's mouth corner stroked
or touched. You'll see that the infant will
turn his or her head and open his or her
lips to "root" in the direction of the
stroking when triggered.
Interpretation: Rooting is a normal
reflex present in new born infants and
there are also instances that we
couldn’t see this reflex in some infants.
However, a weak rooting reflex is
normally not a cause for concern
because babies who are born
prematurely may need to develop it and
since this reflex is not one that babies
need to retain for very long.
 SUCKING REFLEX – feeding reflex.
Disappearance: This reflex continue
throughout childhood.
How to assess: Sucking reflex can be
assessed by inserting a pacifier, clean
finger, breast, or bottle into the infant's
mouth. If the response is fully
developed, the infant should enclose
the object with their lips and squeeze it
rhythmically between their tongue and
palate.
Interpretation: Poor sucking reflexes in
premature infants may have a medical
cause, but the reflex should be present
in full-term children and older infants.
The sucking reflex is generally still
present in children who have spinal cord
injury. In full-term children who have
sucking issues, the presence of this
response even in the face of
neurological impairment may therefore
be a symptom of more serious
neurological issues.
 TONIC NECK REFLEX – the tonic neck reflex,
often referred to as a fencing reflex, occurs
when the infant's head moves to one side.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about
5-7 months.
How to assess: To assess the Tonic neck
reflex, the infant is placed in a lying
position and her/his head is gently
turned to one side. Then, as if he/she
were fencing, the opposing arm will be
bent and the corresponding arm will
straighten.
 Interpretation: Tonic neck reflex is a
normal reflex present in new born
infants and it is also normal if you don’t
always see your baby with this reflex
because it may depend on how at ease
they are or whether something else in
the room is distracting them.
 PALMAR GRASP REFLEX - a flexion-
adduction motion of the hands and digits
that is involuntary.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about
5-6 months.
How to assess: Grasp reflex can be
assessed by putting a finger in the
infant's open palm. The infant should
take hold of the finger and possibly even
hold it firmly.
Interpretation: Early on in infancy, a
diminished or negative plantar grab
reflex may be a sensitive indication of
the later onset of spasticity.
 PLANTAR REFLEX – it is similar to palmar
grasp reflex that includes the toes.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about
8-10 months.
How to assess: Plantar reflex can be
assessed by putting an object just
beneath the toes that causes them to
curl around it.
Interpretation: The great toe flexes
normally as part of the plantar reflex, or
nothing happens. A metabolic or
anatomical problem in the corticospinal
system upstream from the segmental
reflex is reliably indicated by the
abnormal response.
 STEPPING REFLEX - also called the walking
or dancing reflex.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about 2
months.
How to assess: Stepping reflex can be
assessed by holding the infant up so
that his or her feet are on a flat surface.
The infant will move his or her legs in a
manner that resembles walking or
making attempts at it.
Interpretation: The stepping reflex is
your baby's reaction to a particular
stimulus, but it also demonstrates that a
portion of their developing brains are
already familiar with the movements
they will eventually require to walk. The
absence of the stepping reflex or other
basic reflexes may be a sign of
underlying central nervous system
issues (CNS).
 BABINSKI REFLEX – a natural foot reflex
that occurs in infants and young children.
Disappearance: This reflex lasts about 2
years old.
How to assess: The Babinski reflex can
be assessed when the sole of the foot
has been firmly stroked. The big toe
then moves upward or toward the top
surface of the foot and the other toes
fan out.
Interpretation: Babinski reflexes may be
normal in children under the age of two.
Sometimes it can end after a year. If the
Babinski sign is still present after that,
neurological issues are probably
present. In adults, the Babinski reflex is
not a normal finding.
 BLINKING REFLEX – an uncontrollable eyelid
blink brought on by corneal stimulation
Disappearance: This reflex is
permanent.
How to assess: The Blinking reflex can
be assessed through the flash of the
light and puff of the air.
Interpretation: Absence of the corneal
or blinking reflex could mean either a
unilateral or bilateral severe coma or
stroke.
 PARACHUTE REFLEX – automatic muscle
reaction in response to stimulation
Disappearance: This reflex is
permanent.
How to assess: The Parachute reflex can
be assessed through positioning the
infant prone in mid-air, head first as
though falling. The infant will stretch
their fingers and extend their arms
forward as though they were trying to
break or cushion the fall.
Interpretation: Absence of the
parachute reflex could mean that
children has cerebral palsy. Also, this
reflex would asymmetrical in spastic
hemiplegia.
 PATELLAR REFLEX – occurs whenever there
is a sudden shift in muscle length.
Disappearance: This reflex is
permanent.
How to assess: The Patellar reflex can
be assessed by using a test hammer to
strike the patellar tendon below the
knee cap.
Interpretation: A quick leg extension
must be the expected response. A
diminished or heightened reaction is a
sign of injury to or disruption of the
quadriceps muscle's innervation.
 ABDOMINAL REFLEX - contraction of the
abdominal wall muscles.
Disappearance: This reflex is
permanent.
How to assess: The abdominal reflex
can be assessed by using a wooden
cotton applicator stick or similar
instrument to gently stroke the four
quadrants of the abdomen close to the
umbilicus.
Interpretation: If the navel travels up,
down, or to either side, Beevor's sign is
seen as positive. The presence or
absence of the abdominal reflex is
noted. An absence of reaction could be
physiological. Physiological missing
reaction can result from abdominal
surgery, repeated pregnancies,
weakness, or weakened muscles. The
absence of this reaction in children is
not unusual.
 GAG REFLEX - a contraction of the throat.
Disappearance: This reflex is
permanent.
How to assess: The Gag reflex can be
assessed with a cotton swab or tongue
blade, gently press one palatal arch,
then the other, while checking for
gagging.
Interpretation: This reflexive action
stops us from swallowing potentially
dangerous chemicals and prevents
choking. On the other hand, when the
gag reflex and pharyngeal sensation are
absent, it may be a sign of a number of
serious illnesses, including brain death,
vagus nerve damage, and damage to the
glossopharyngeal nerve.