An involuntary bending of the fingers in response to tactile or tendon stimulation on the palm, producing an uncontrollable grasp, and associated with frontal lobe brain lesions. An involuntary bending of the fingers in response to tactile or tendon stimulation on the palm, producing an uncontrollable grasp, and associated with frontal lobe brain lesions.
The following are some of the normal reflexes seen in newborn babies: Root reflex. This reflex begins when the corner of the baby's mouth is stroked or touched. The baby will turn his or her head and open his or her mouth to follow and root in the direction of the stroking. This helps the baby find the breast or bottle to begin feeding. When a baby's head is turned to one side, the arm on that side stretches out and the opposite arm bends up at the elbow. This is often called the fencing position. The tonic neck reflex lasts about 6 to 7 months. Grasp reflex. Stroking the palm of a baby's hand causes the baby to close his or her fingers in a grasp. grasp reflex. n. An involuntary bending of the fingers in response to tactile or tendon stimulation on the palm, producing an uncontrollable grasp, and associated with frontal lobe brain lesions. The reflex is a pathologic manifestation of diseases of the premotor cortex. In young infants the tonic grasp reflex is normal: the child can grasp the examiner's fingers so firmly that he or she can be lifted into the air. Also called darwinian reflex palmar grasp reflex. A normal reflex in a the newborn in which the baby's fingers spontaneously curl around any object placed within them and do not spontaneously let go. This reflex usually diminishes by age 3 to 4 months and disappears before age 6 months. The reflex reappears later in life in diseases that affect the frontal lobes of the brain. Grasp reflex of a 5 month old baby. Palmar grasp reflex (sometimes simply called grasp reflex) is a primitive reflex. It appears as early as 16 weeks in utero and persists until five or six months of age. When an object is placed in the infant's hand and strokes their palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it with a palmar grasp. A reflex is built into the nervous system and does not need the intervention of conscious thought to take effect. The knee jerk is an example of the simplest type of reflex. When the knee is tapped, the nerve that receives this stimulus sends an impulse to the spinal cord, where it is relayed to a motor nerve. This causes the quadriceps muscle at the front of the thigh to contract and jerk the leg up. The reflex is a pathologic manifestation of diseases of the premotor cortex. In young infants the tonic grasp reflex is normal: the child can grasp the examiner's fingers so firmly that he or she can be lifted into the air. Also called darwinian reflex The palmar grasp reflex appears at birth and persists until five or six months of age. When an object is placed in the infant's hand and strokes their palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it with a palmar grasp. These reflexes are absent due to the development of the frontal lobes as a child transitions normally into child development. These primitive reflexes are also called infantile, infant or newborn reflexes. Primitive reflexes are reflex actions originating in the central nervous system that are exhibited by normal infants, but not neurologically intact adults, in response to particular stimuli. These reflexes are absent due to the development of the frontal lobes as a child transitions normally into child development. These primitive reflexes are also called infantile, infant or newborn reflexes. 1 Rooting reflex. 2  When the side of a baby's cheek is touched, the head turns and his or her mouth reaches toward it. 3  Traction response. 4  When a newborn is pulled by the arms from a lying to a sitting position, the head lags at first. 1 Palmar grasp. 2  A newborn grasps a finger that is placed on his or her palm. 3  Placing. 4  A newborn flexes the knee and brings the foot up when the sole of his or her foot is rubbed. 5  Startle (Moro) reflex. 6  A startled newborn throws out his or her arms and spreads the fingers. re·flex. adj. 1. Physiology Being an involuntary action or response, such as a sneeze, blink, or hiccup. 2. Produced as an automatic response or reaction: reflex opposition to change. reflex-an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus. inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, physiological reaction, reflex action, reflex response, unconditioned reflex.
http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newborn-reflexes-90-P02630 http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/grasp+reflex http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/palmar+grasp+reflex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmar_grasp_reflex http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/grasp+reflex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_reflexes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_reflexes http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/newborn-reflexes-topic-overview http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grasp+reflex
grasp reflex definition