Question

Juan injured his back in a fall. When his ER physician stroked the bottoms of Juan's foot, she noted that his big toe pointed up and his other toes fanned out. What is this response called and what does it indicate?

Answer 1

The response described is called the Babinski sign. In an adult, a positive Babinski sign can indicate a problem with the corticospinal tract.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response described, where the big toe points up and the other toes fan out, is called the Babinski sign.

This response is a reflex that is normally suppressed by the corticospinal input from the brain.

In an adult, a positive Babinski sign can indicate a problem with the corticospinal tract, such as a lesion or damage to the spinal cord or brain.