Moro reflex
- noun
- /ˈmɔroʊ ˈrɛflɛks/
- Specialized
:
reflejo de Moro
- The nurse explained to the parents that the Moro reflex usually disappears after a few months.
Examples
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The doctor tested the baby's Moro reflex during the check-up.
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A lack of the Moro reflex in newborns can indicate neurological problems.
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The baby showed a strong Moro reflex when the door slammed.
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During the check-up, Dr. Smith observed the Moro reflex in infants.
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When the baby heard a loud noise, he reacted by exhibiting the Moro reflex, stretching out his arms and bending his legs.
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The pediatrician explained that the Moro reflex is a common response in infants to sudden movements or sounds.
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Parents often notice the Moro reflex when their child flinches and extends their arms after a loud bang.
Synonyms
1
6.6
A quick automatic reaction to a sudden sound or movement that makes you jump
A baby's quick arm and leg movement after a loud noise
A quick change in your body and feelings when something suddenly surprises you, like a loud noise
Surface Forms
Morphology
Moro + reflex
While 'reflex' is a transparent head noun meaning an automatic bodily response, 'Moro' is an eponym/proper name with no independent lexical meaning that would signal the specific startle/stretch response to a B1 learner. The compound therefore names a conventional medical phenomenon rather than composing a predictable meaning from its parts, so learners would need prior exposure or medical knowledge.
Etymology
The term Moro reflex is named after a doctor called Moro and describes a baby's sudden movement or reflex when they are startled. The baby throws the arms out and then pulls them in, so Moro reflex today means the normal 'startle response' in newborns.