Reflex Rossolimo - a pathological reflex, manifested in flexing the fingers of the foot or hand

If you touch a hot object, the hand will reflexively pull back. This is a simple mechanism of self-preservation, which is almost impossible to control. The set of reflexes is huge, and they are especially well seen by the example of very young children, which is convenient for diagnosing diseases, because a child can not say that, for example, it hurts, and the body's reaction speaks for itself.

About reflexes

Newborn children up to a certain age react differently to different stimuli differently than adults. And what is normal for them, is later regarded as a pathology, and requires close attention. Including them you can understand how well the baby's nervous system develops, whether there are any features and problems.

For infants, a certain set of reflexes is necessary for survival. Search reflex, when, in response to a touch on the cheek, the child turns his head toward the stimulus, it is necessary to establish nutrition. Children grab fingers if they touch the center of their palms. They are held so strong that they do not let go of the support, even if they are raised in this way. This and much more increases the chances of survival and helps the baby to develop and grow.

But, of course, it happens that a person gives out "superfluous" reactions that can not be controlled. As a rule, it speaks about serious problems, diagnose and treat which the neurologist can.

Rossolimo G.I.

There is a flexor pathological reflex, named after the Russian scientist, which is one of the main signs of late spastic paralysis. It is worth to learn a little about this researcher.

Grigory Ivanovich Rossolimo was born in 1860 in Odessa in a family of Greek origin. In 1884 he graduated from the Medical Faculty of Moscow University, where he became acquainted and made friends with AP Chekhov. Rossolimo's sphere of interest was mainly neuropathology, psychology and defectology.

In 1890 he became the head of the clinic of nervous diseases, while simultaneously conducting research and teaching at the university, which he left in 1911. Research GI. Rossolimo has become an invaluable contribution to the diagnosis of brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis.

He also dealt with issues of raising children with mental development problems, developed a method for assessing intellectual abilities, invented such medical devices as a dynamometer, a cloneograph, a brain topograph. Nevertheless, most of all he is known in connection with the refinement of the conductors in the nervous system and the description of the pathological flexion reflex, now bearing his name. It is widely used in diagnostics today, although Grigory Ivanovich's work on this issue was published in 1902 - more than 100 years ago.

Reflex Rossolimo

Usually, when this term is used, it is about the feet, but in fact it can be fixed and with the stimulation of the fingers, although the latter is sometimes called by the name of the researcher Tremner.

Reflex Rossolimo almost in all cases is registered in children under 6 months of life, after that - in 30% of cases. As a rule, after 2 years it becomes negative, and after 3 positive response can talk about serious problems of the nervous system.

Upper

Usually, when they say about Rossolimo's reflex, they mean a reaction that can occur with a certain effect on the toes. But there is also an analogue in the upper limbs, called wrist.

In order to test the reaction, the neurologist applies a short, abrupt impact-touch on the fingers of the subject (except the large one), while the hand is in the palm facing down. In the case of pathology, rhythmic flexion movements will be observed, which the patient is unable to control.

Lower

A similar situation with stops. The researcher is located horizontally in a relaxed position. The doctor strikes short blows on the pads from the plantar side. In the case of a positive reaction, bending movements are observed. In this case, the thumb will reverse back. On the part of the observer, this will look like the researcher is trying to capture the stimulus.

Conditionality

The reaction to the stimulus is manifested in connection with the passage of impulses along a certain path, which depends on which specific reflex is tested. Reflex arcs are the same "paths" that make up the complex, including the receptor, the afferent (the process of the neuron), the central, efferent link and, finally, the effector (the executive organ).

This term was introduced in 1850 and is now considered in some cases to be incorrect, since it does not fully reflect the reaction mechanism and the presence of feedback. In return, he proposes the concept of a reflex ring, which, however, is not always used.

If we talk about the lower pathological flexion reflex, the reflex arcs will be as follows: receptors of the sole - tibial nerve - sciatic - spinal cord neurons. Two types of cells are involved in the formation of the reaction: sensory and motor cells. Further through the sciatic and tibial nerve, the impulse returns to the original area, to the muscles that cause flexion of the fingers.

Causes

Reflex Rossolimo refers to the pyramid signs. That is, a positive reaction after a certain age indicates serious neurological problems. A certain group of pathological reflexes is named so, since it helps to diagnose the lesion of the central neuron of the cerebral cortex, or of the cortical-spinal (pyramidal) pathway. Damage can be of a different nature, but, as a rule, they say organic.

If we talk about children, then up to a certain age, the pathological reflex for them is not such in view of the insufficient development of the pyramidal path immediately after birth. After a while, the reaction fades, after all the necessary connections are established. Do not think that a child showing a positive reflex is immature. Up to 6-12 months this is the norm.

Value

Rossolimo's reflex reflex is a manifestation of the defeat of the central motor neuron. At the same time, the stopping of inhibitory impulses in the spinal cord, in connection with which it becomes possible to register a positive reaction to stimulation.

In this case, unlike some other pathological reflexes, this one does not speak about acute lesion (except trauma with spinal shock), but is a late manifestation of such a disease as central (spastic) paralysis.

The cause of this ailment lies in the damage to the motor neuron. Since the fibers and cells in it are very closely located, manifestations often extend to whole parts or even half of the body. With this violation, there is loss of motor functions, hypertension of muscles, hyperreflexia, clones (contraction in response to stretching), etc.

Treatment

Spastic paralysis itself, followed by pathological reflexes and synkinesia (friendly movements) is just a manifestation of the underlying disease. But the defeats, which they signal, can be as follows:

• Injuries;
• Oncological diseases;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Infection;
• intoxication;
• Congenital disorders.

In 60% of cases, spastic paralysis is a consequence of a stroke, and the reasons listed above fall on the rest. In each case, the doctor evaluates the patient's condition, identifies the causes of the problems and prescribes the appropriate treatment. These can be drugs that improve blood circulation or promote the recovery of brain cells.

Also, of course, attention is paid to the underlying disease that caused damage, if possible. If it is an infection, suitable antibiotics are prescribed. If it is a question of poisoning, then it is necessary to carry out appropriate actions to cleanse the body tissues - dialysis, forced diuresis, etc. In addition, physiotherapy, reflexology, special baths, and massage are often prescribed.

It is usually not possible to restore the affected structures if a positive Rossolimo reflex is recorded, but symptomatic treatment can significantly improve the patient's condition and improve the quality of his life. It is likely that with the development of medical technologies, full recovery will be possible, but so far this is only a goal.