A pathology called the Babinsky reflex is a fairly common phenomenon among newborn babies. In a healthy child, this ailment disappears as the cerebral cortex develops.
Babinsky's reflex is also called a symptom of extension of the big toe. It is caused by intense irritation of the outer part of the baby's foot in a direction from the bottom up. Normally, the response consists in the gradual extension of the first finger. In healthy babies, this reaction is already evident in the first half of life. With irritation of the reflex arc, the remaining toes may be slightly bent, remain motionless or diverge as a fan. The absence of a reflex, as well as difficulties in bending the fingers, may indicate a defeat in the reflex arc. Babinsky's reflex can occur in children up to 2-3 years old. And this will not be considered a pathology, unless there are other signs of damage to the nervous system. The manifestation of this reaction in children older than four years indicates a pathology of the motor neuron.
This symptom is named after its discoverer, the French neuropathologist Joseph Babinsky. Detection of a reflex does not require any special equipment; it is performed very quickly and gives very reliable results about the state of the human nervous system.
Methodology
A neurologist holds the back of the malleus on the outside and inside of the sole. Touch should be light so as not to cause pain. With normal development, a positive symptom of Babinsky is observed.
Value.
A negative result indicates various neurological disorders. It is the first sign of cerebral palsy, may indicate a violation of cerebral circulation, CNS tumors, etc.
Babinsky syndrome in adults.
Disappearing in early childhood, the reflex may reappear as a result of disruption of the cerebral cortex. With irritation of the feet of an adult, normal fingers should curl. In some cases, a neutral reflection is observed, while the legs remain in the same position. If the fingers extend, this indicates pathology. Babinsky's reflex can be observed both on one and both limbs at the same time. Some patients may experience coordination problems and other neurological disorders.
The Babinsky reflex detected in adults indicates a lesion of the
motor neuron system
. She is responsible for the interaction of certain parts of the spinal cord and brain. In this case, the arrival of impulses to motor neurons ceases, which causes this syndrome. In adults, this feature may be a
sign of a stroke, tumors of the spinal cord or brain,
multiple sclerosis, and other diseases. Today, reflex is an important diagnostic tool that precedes the emergence of fairly serious neurological diseases. If a syndrome is detected in an adult, additional diagnostic tests are usually prescribed. They are used to identify the true cause of the reflex. After an accurate diagnosis is made, the neurologist can determine the course of treatment.