Moro reflex

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Moro Reflex

The Moro reflex (pronounced: /ˈmɔːroʊ/), also known as the startle reflex, is an involuntary motor response that is exhibited by newborn infants. The reflex is named after its discoverer, Austrian pediatrician Ernst Moro.

Etymology

The term "Moro reflex" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Ernst Moro, who first described the reflex in 1918. The term "reflex" comes from the Latin reflexus, meaning "bent back", and refers to an automatic, unlearned response to a stimulus.

Description

The Moro reflex is triggered when an infant is startled by a loud sound or movement, particularly if the infant's head changes position. The infant responds by throwing back its head, extending out its arms and legs, crying, and then pulling the arms and legs back in. This reflex is usually present at birth and disappears around the age of 3 to 6 months.

Related Terms

  • Startle response: A similar reflex in adults and older children, characterized by a sequence of movements in response to an unexpected stimulus.
  • Primitive reflexes: Reflexes that are exhibited by normal infants, but not usually by older children or adults.
  • Infant development: The process of growth and maturation of a child from birth to one year of age.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski