Brissaud's reflex is a

clinical sign Signs and symptoms are the observed or detectable signs, and experienced symptoms of an illness, injury, or condition. A sign for example may be a higher or lower temperature than normal, raised or lowered blood pressure or an abnormality showin ...

in which stroking the sole of the foot elicits contraction of

tensor fasciae latae The tensor fasciae latae (or tensor fasciæ latæ or, formerly, tensor vaginae femoris) is a muscle of the thigh. Together with the gluteus maximus, it acts on the iliotibial band and is continuous with the iliotibial tract, which attaches to the ...

. This can occur when there is no movement of the toes, and is part of the extensor plantar response (Babinski's sign). The sign is named after

Édouard Brissaud Édouard Brissaud (15 April 1852, Besançon – 20 December 1909) was a French physician and pathologist. He was taught by Jean Martin Charcot at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. He had interests in a number of medical disciplines including motion di ...

External links

Medical signs Reflexes {{med-sign-stub