Grasp Primitive Reflex on Newborn Physical Exam Placement of the examiner’s finger in the palm of the hand or on the sole of the foot will cause flexion and grasping of the fingers or toes. One should avoid touching the dorsum of the hand while eliciting the grasp reflex because stimulating the back of the hand causes a hand opening reflex to occur. With the two competing reflexes, the grasp response will be incomplete or inconsistent. You can actually see this happen with the baby that is being examined. The grasp reflex can be reinforced by applying traction on the arm. #Grasp #Primitive #Reflex #Newborn #PhysicalExam #clinical #video #peds #pediatrics
