Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
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The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) is a primitive reflex found in newborn humans, but normally vanishes by the child's first birthday.
It is also known as the "fencing reflex" because of the characteristic position of the infant's arms and head, which resemble those of a classically trained fencer. When the face is turned to one side, the arm and leg on the side to which the face is turned extend and the arm and leg on the opposite side bend.
The presence of the ATNR, as well as other primitive reflexes such as the tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR), beyond the first months of life may indicate that the child has developmental delays, at which point the reflex is atypical or abnormal. For example, in children with cerebral palsy, the reflexes may persist and even be more pronounced. As abnormal reflexes, both the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) and the tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR) can cause problems for the growing child. The ATNR and TLR both hinder functional activities such as rolling, bringing the hands together, or even bringing the hands to the mouth. Over time, both the ATNR and TLR can cause serious damage to the growing child's joints and bones. The ATNR can cause the spine to curve (scoliosis). Both the ATNR and TLR can cause the head of the thighbone to partially slip out (subluxation) or completely move out of the hip socket (dislocation).
References
- Teaching Motor Skills to Children with Cerebral Palsy and Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, by Sieglinde Martin, M.S., P.T. (2006). ISBN 1-890627-72-0
Nervous system physiology: neurophysiology - reflex | |
|---|---|
| Cranial nerve | midbrain: Pupillary light reflex - Accommodation reflex pons/medulla: Jaw jerk reflex - Corneal reflex - Caloric reflex test/Vestibulo-ocular reflex - Gag reflex |
| Tendon reflexes | upper limb: Biceps reflex - Brachioradialis reflex - Extensor digitorum reflex - Triceps reflex lower limb: Patellar reflex - Ankle jerk reflex - Plantar reflex |
| Primitive reflexes | Galant - Grasp - Moro - Rooting - Stepping - Sucking - Tonic neck |
| Other | Baroreflex - Acoustic reflex - H-reflex - Oculocardiac reflex - Stretch reflex - Startle reaction - Optokinetic - Withdrawal reflex - Crossed extensor reflex |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
