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The forearm is placed halfway between flexion and extension and slightly pronated (the biceps being also a supinator) and the thumb or finger on the tendon. A blow on the digit results in flexion of the forearm. The reflex arc is by way of the musculocutaneous nerve and the fifth and sixth cervical segments.

The triceps reflex. The forearm is held by the examiner, partly flexed at the elbow and the tendon struck just above the olecranon process. Read the rest of this entry »

The Babinski toe sign is found in lesion of the pyramidal tract (although dorsiflextion of the big toe may occur spontaneously in extra-pyramidal disease) and is obtained by scratching with a pin upward and inward the outer side of the sole of the foot. If positive, there is fanning plantar flexion of the lesser toes and dorsiflexion (extension) of the big toe.

Often in severe lesions there is simultaneous dorsiflexion at the ankle, flexion at the knee and Read the rest of this entry »

The grasp reflex is significant of frontal lobe lesions. It is regarded as a release phenomenon and occurs normally in infants below one year of age. The grasp reflex probably is the result of tonic innervations, due to stretch, hence is proprioceptive in nature. Fulton has shown that the grasp reflex is an integral part of the body righting reflex Read the rest of this entry »