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Babinski

Babinski sign, or the Babinski reflex, is a neurological sign described by Joseph Babinski in 1896. It is interpreted as evidence of an upper motor neuron (corticospinal) tract lesion.

In a typical adult, stimulation of the lateral sole causes a specific response: a positive Babinski sign

Clinical significance: a persistent positive Babinski sign suggests corticospinal tract dysfunction and is seen in conditions

Testing method: with the patient relaxed, the examiner lightly strokes the lateral aspect of the sole from

is
dorsiflexion
of
the
great
toe
with
fanning
of
the
other
toes.
A
normal
plantar
response
is
plantar
flexion
of
the
toes.
In
infants,
a
Babinski
response
is
common
and
usually
fades
by
about
one
year
of
age,
reflecting
immature
corticospinal
pathways.
such
as
stroke,
traumatic
brain
or
spinal
cord
injury,
multiple
sclerosis,
and
motor
neuron
disease.
It
is
not
specific
to
a
single
disease
and
may
be
absent
in
some
UMN
disorders,
especially
early
in
the
disease
course.
the
heel
toward
the
base
of
the
little
toe.
The
appropriate
positive
response
is
dorsiflexion
of
the
big
toe
with
fanning
of
the
other
toes;
a
down-going
or
curling
toes
response
is
considered
negative.
The
sign
is
one
component
of
a
broader
neurological
examination.