Neonatal Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are automatic responses generated largely through brainstem and spinal pathways before higher cortical control has matured. Their presence, strength, symmetry, and eventual integration give the nurse a rapid window into neurologic function during a period when the newborn cannot describe weakness, altered sensation, or poor coordination. The response depends on a chain of intact functions: the infant must detect the stimulus, transmit that information through peripheral nerves and the central nervous system, and produce an appropriate motor response. An absent or asymmetric reflex can therefore reflect a problem anywhere along that chain. It is a finding to interpret, not a diagnosis by itself. These reflexes also have practical meaning. Rooting and sucking support feeding. Grasping responses demonstrate coordinated flexion of the hands and feet. The Moro response requires an organized response to a sudden change in position and should be present on both sides. A pattern of abnormal reflexes is more concerning than a single weak response in a sleepy or unsettled infant. Primitive reflexes are expected in newborn life and are screened during the routine neurologic examination,...