(bă-bĭn′skēz)
[Pronunciation]
[Joseph Babinski, Fr. neurologist, 1857–1932]
Dorsiflexion of the great toe when the sole of the foot is stimulated.
Normally, when the lateral aspect of the sole of the relaxed foot is stroked, the great toe flexes. If the toe extends instead of flexes and the outer toes spread out, Babinski's reflex is present. It is a normal reflex in infants under the age of 6 months but indicates a lesion of the pyramidal (corticospinal) tract in older individuals. Care must be taken to avoid interpreting voluntary extension of the toe as Babinski's reflex.