TOE REFLEX Meaning and
Definition
-
The term "toe reflex" refers to a neurologic response observed in the human body when the sole of the foot is stimulated, resulting in the involuntary movement of the toes. It is also commonly known as the "Babinski reflex" or the "plantar reflex". This reflex is often used by healthcare professionals as a diagnostic tool to assess the integrity of the nervous system, particularly the nerve pathways in the brain and spinal cord.
When the sole of the foot is firmly stroked, starting from the heel and moving towards the toes with a blunt object, a normal response would be the flexion or curling down of the toes. However, in the presence of certain neurologic abnormalities, such as damage to the central nervous system, an abnormal response known as the toe reflex is observed. Instead of flexing, the big toe extends upwards and the other toes fan out. This distinctive upward movement of the big toe is indicative of an abnormal or pathological reflex and suggests dysfunction within the neural pathways controlling the reflex arc.
The presence of an abnormal toe reflex can provide important diagnostic information when evaluating various conditions, including central nervous system diseases, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries. In infants, the toe reflex is considered normal until a certain age, after which it typically disappears as the nervous system matures. However, in adults, the persistence or reappearance of the toe reflex can be indicative of serious underlying neurological abnormalities and warrants further medical evaluation.
-
(1) Strong passive flexion of the great toe excites contraction of the flexor muscles in the leg; (2) sudden passive extension causes rhythmical contraction of the great toe, toe-clonus; (3) Babinski's phenomenon; see Babinski, Chaddock, Crafts, Gordon, and Oppenheim.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TOE REFLEX
