Which description matches the Moro reflex?

• A. When something touches a neonate's cheek, he or she instinctively turns his or her head toward the touch.
• B. The neonate opens his or her arms wide, spreads his or her fingers, and seems to grasp at something after being startled.
• C. When the sole of the foot is stroked with a blunt object, the big toe lifts upward and the other toes fan outward.
• D. An infant's heart rate decreases secondary to hypoxia because he or she depends heavily on the heart rate to perfuse the body.

Answer: (B)

The Moro reflex is a startle response in newborns. When startled by a loud noise or a sudden loss of support, the baby first extends and abducts the arms, spreading the fingers, then brings the arms back together as if to embrace the body. This description—arms open wide, fingers spread, appearing to grasp at something after a startle—fits that reflex. It’s normally present at birth and fades by about 4–6 months as the nervous system matures. Other options describe different neonatal reflexes: rooting involves turning toward cheek touch, the plantar/Babinski response involves toe movement to sole stimulation, and a heart-rate change due to hypoxia isn’t a reflex.