An adult patient shows Babinski's sign during a test of plantar reflex. How is Babinski's sign different than the normal response and what does the altered response indicate?

What will be an ideal response


The plantar reflex tests the integrity of the spinal cord from L4 to S2 and also determines if corticospinal tracts are functioning and properly myelinated. The normal plantar response is downward flexion of the toes. If there is damage, the great toe dorsiflexes and smaller toes fan laterally (Babinski's sign). Infants, who normally lack complete myelination, exhibit this sign.

Anatomy & Physiology

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