Which test involves stroking the lateral aspect of the sole from heel to ball and then across the ball?

• A. Babinski Test (Plantar response)
• B. Oppenheim test
• C. Gordon sign
• D. Chaddock sign

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the plantar reflex and the Babinski response, which checks the integrity of the corticospinal (pyramidal) tract. Stroking the lateral edge of the sole from heel toward the ball and then across the ball is the classic way to elicit this reflex. In a healthy adult, the toes curl downward. If the corticospinal pathway is disrupted, the big toe dorsiflexes and the other toes fan out—a positive Babinski sign. This pattern reflects upper motor neuron involvement, not just a normal reflex pattern in infants (where the Babinski response can be normal due to immature pathways). So the described maneuver is the Babinski test, used to detect potential pyramidal tract lesions. Other signs like Oppenheim, Gordon, and Chaddock are alternative methods to provoke similar UMN findings, but the described test specifically targets the plantar response named after Babinski.