Neural Exam Movies

Introduction

WHO motor development milestones

Neurological development continues postnatally with both growth and reorganization of the central nervous system. The amount of simple physical growth is shown by the skeletal flexibility designed around the brain and spinal cord, which allows continued postnatal growth of these structures. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently identified early postnatal motor skill development in terms of "motor milestones"^[1], this was released along with new international growth charts.

The following movies demonstrate normal and abnormal postnatal neurological development assessment procedures. The newborn neuromuscular system can be initially assessed by 6 quick tests (posture, square window, arm recoil, popliteal angle, scarf sign and heel to ear). Later developmental assessment includes behaviour, reflexes (primitive and postural), muscular tone, and motor (gross, fine, co-ordination). This is examined in the newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and at 30 months of age. There are several primitive reflexes (rooting, sucking reflexes, Moro, grasp) that change (are repressed) with development of the central nervous system. These movies were designed by PD Larsen and SS Stensaas, Utah School of Medicine.

Newborn

Newborn Behaviour


normal behaviour	cranial nerves

Newborn Tone


resting posture	upper extremity‎	arm traction	arm recoil	scarf sign	hand position	lower extremity

leg traction‎	leg recoil‎‎	popliteal angle‎	heel to ear	neck tone	head lag‎	head control

Newborn Positions


prone	ventral	vertical

Newborn Reflexes


deep tendon reflexes	plantar reflex‎	suck, root	Moro	Galant	stepping‎	grasp

Newborn Head


shape, sutures‎	circumference‎

Newborn Abnormal

Newborn Behaviour


abnormal behaviour	cranial nerves

Newborn Tone


resting posture	upper extremity‎	arm traction	arm recoil	scarf sign	hand position	lower extremity

leg traction‎	leg recoil‎‎	popliteal angle‎	heel to ear	neck tone	head lag‎	head control