Proboscis reflex in adults and newborns

Already immediately after birth, each baby has a whole set of congenital reflexes. Their manifestation indicates normal development of the body. All these unconditioned reflexes, and more than seventy of them, are aimed at ensuring that the child quickly adapts to the conditions of existence in this world. One of the congenital is a proboscis reflex. What it is and whether it can manifest itself in adults, we will consider in more detail.

general information

One of the necessary and most important automatisms is the proboscis reflex. This contraction of the muscles around the mouth occurs automatically if you touch the lips briefly. The reaction to such a touch is the stretching of the lips into a tube resembling a proboscis. Hence the name appeared. In the first months of life, the sucking act plays a large role, it is simply necessary, the bekhterov's reflex refers to the components of sucking. This reflex was first described by the great Russian neurologist V. Bekhterev at the beginning of the last century.

In neurology, when testing this reflex, certain conformances to age norms are revealed, as well as various pathologies in the work of the nervous system.

A small defenseless child already at birth receives unconditioned reflexes, which give him the opportunity to survive, to settle. Congenital reflexes normally disappear in the first three to five months. In their place come new - conditional. Parents need to know what kind of reflexes a newborn has. Knowledge will help prevent the development of various serious diseases. Proboscis, as, indeed, sucking, are among the main in the list of congenital reflexes and participate in the process of nutrition.

Reflexes in newborns

The main congenital reflexes that function in the first months of life are the following:

• swallowing;
• Sucking;
• Proboscis;
• search;
• Upper protective;
• Reflex of Babkin.

According to these reflexes, the pediatrician can determine how the child develops, how his nervous system works. Thanks to them you can understand the behavior of the baby. The absence of any reflex may indicate the development of pathologies in the body. At the same time, the long non-dissolution of automatism should also alarm.

Suckling reflex. This reflex of a newborn is manifested in any irritation in the mouth, be it a nipple, a nipple and even a finger. At presence of something the child there and then starts to make sucking movements. This important reflex is inherent in every healthy and full-term baby. The reflex is preserved throughout the first year of life.

Search reflex . With gentle and cautious stroking of the corner of the mouth of the baby, he lowers his lower lip and begins to deflect the tongue in the irritating side, actively looking for the mother's breast. An important point: if the search reflex is checked, do not touch the lips themselves, so the child will have a proboscis reflex. The touch should be very light. With severe irritation, discomfort, the baby, on the contrary, turns his head in the opposite direction. The reflex works up to five months, sometimes longer.

Proboscis reflex in children

In newborns, the manifestation of this reflex is observed in the form of a specific protrusion of the lips with a tube. This manifests itself in response to irritation by briefly tapping the area of the upper lip with the finger. The test can be performed by both the doctor and the mother herself. Automatic reduction of the circular muscle of the mouth causes the manifestation of a proboscis reflex. In the photo you can see how the baby folds the lips with a "bow". Circular muscle is the key muscle, which is called sucking. According to pediatricians, the proboscis reflex is normally present in a baby for up to three months, then begins to fade. But there is an opinion that this reflex represents a protective-adaptive reaction and can remain in the child up to three years.

Proboscis reflex in adults

If the reflex in question is present in adults, then this indicates a pathology, a deformation of the structure of the brain. The neurologist can suspect the following:

• stroke;
• Craniocerebral injury;
• Bulbar syndrome;
• Encephalopathy.

The proboscis reflex in an adult often indicates oral automatism. It is also possible to detect diagnosed pseudobulbar paralysis. These symptoms can be detected with diffuse lesions of the brain. The risk group includes mentally unhealthy people, as well as people suffering from any neuropathic disorder. To avoid negative consequences, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations in the neurologist's office. The doctor should pay special attention to this mechanism.

This reflex can not always indicate a pathology. In elderly people who follow their own health, it can sometimes be mild.

Assessment of developmental norms in newborns

How is the rate of development of a proboscis reflex in a newborn determined? This reflex should appear soon after birth. He points out the usefulness of the child's development. Thanks to the trial, the doctor can draw conclusions about compliance with physiological standards. If there were any injuries in the delivery, there may be some brain damage. In such cases, unconditioned reflexes are violated. It happens that the proboscis reflex manifests itself approximately on the seventh day after birth, before that he was absent altogether. Diagnosis of this symptom in combination with other indicators gives the neurologist an opportunity to assess the neurological status of development.

Detection of pathologies in the child

Many pediatricians believe that the normal extension of the lips into the tube (proboscis reflex) should disappear by the third month of life. If such a reaction is present in further development, then this may indicate the presence of any lesions in the brain. On the pathology may also indicate the asymmetry of the lips stretched into the tube, as well as the complete absence of a proboscis reflex in the first months of life.

It should be noted that in healthy children up to a year, sometimes up to three years, this reflex was observed. In such cases, it was characterized as a protective-adaptive reaction.

Detection of pathologies in adults

At the reception, the neurologist identifies pathologies by checking for the presence of a proboscis reflex. If a person develops normally, then infants, congenital reflexes are not required. They die as a child, and they are replaced by others, conditional. With a positive reaction to a proboscis reflex neurologist should be alerted. Perhaps, the patient has a disruption in the brain, this may be due to craniocerebral trauma, with bulbar syndrome or the presence of a stroke.

If such reactions are detected, the doctor directs the patient for an additional examination. It is best if an MRI of the brain is prescribed. Competent diagnosticians after the procedure will write a conclusion and outline an accurate picture of what is happening. In time, the established diagnosis will allow to start correct timely treatment and solve the problem. This reflex can normally be weakly expressed in people of advanced age, this is due to the gradual extinction of the clear activity of the brain.

Diagnostics

The proboscis reflex is examined by a neurologist at a reception in an adult patient or when testing the physiological development of a newborn or infant of the first year of life. The study has several stages, having studied which, each parent will be able to independently check the presence of the proboscis reflex in his own child, in cases if there is any suspicion and anxiety.

So, for diagnostics, you should do the following:

• To begin with, it is necessary to prepare the premises in which the study will be conducted.
• Comfort temperature should be from 25 to 27 degrees.
• Room lighting should be provided in such a way that the room was light, but there was no bright annoying light.
• The surface on which the baby will be placed should be pleasant, soft, but at the same time not bend.
• The child should be prepared. You need to feed it 1-2 hours before the procedure. He should be cheerful, but at the same time calm.
• Determine visually the area of the upper lip, to which you will need to touch.
• Do some light tapping movements, but never use force.
• With a normal reaction, the baby's sponge should take the shape of a proboscis, tubules. The reaction can be accompanied by the simultaneous extension of the lower jaw, as well as swallowing movements.

Children who can already follow the doctor's instructions are diagnosed as adults, that is, using a special neurological malleus. The doctor asks the patient to cover his eyes, then put his index finger on the upper lip. On it the doctor slightly taps a hammer. For these actions, the reaction should be absent. If any, then the neurologist may suspect some pathology in the brain. The proboscis reflex may be a manifestation of focal lesions in the posterior part of the frontal lobe of the brain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that the proboscis congenital reflex is an important indicator of the correct development of a newborn baby. If the reflexes of the baby are delayed, this is due to a number of reasons, perhaps, traumas. Correct diagnosis, timely detection of pathologies give chances for success in rehabilitation not only in children, but also in adults.