Hal 11

Table 2.4 Development emergence of neuromuscular behavior. Reproduced with kind permission from
Wyke B (1975) The Neurological Basis of Movenment – a development review. In Holt K.S. (editor)
Movenment and Child Development. London : William Heinemann Medical Books Ltd, p.21

Development Weeks of age from Neuromuscular development phenomena

period conception

5-6 Excitable muscle fibre differentiation.

Innervation from alpha motoneurones.
6-7 Motoneurone activation of motor units (through fine
ummyelinated axones).
EMBRYONIC 7-8 Afierent neurons establish fine ummyelinated peripheral and
central connexions (trigeminal system first).
Oro-facial cutaneous mass reflexex elicitable.
8 Ampullary cristae active.

9-10 Mass ‘spontaneous’ movements of whole musculature.

Moro reflex elicitable (from vestibular receptors).
12 Muscle spindles differentiate. Movements of eyeballs.
Generalized cervical reflexes. Palmar and plantar reflexes
elicitable.
14 Spinal grey nuclei differentiate. Fusimotor neurons active.
Localized movements of lips, tongue (swallowing), head, trunk,
limbs.
16 Respiratory muscle movements (intercostals before diaphragm).
First myelin lamellae in CNS (in cervical intersegmental tracts
and vestibular nerves).
FETAL 24 Myelin lamellae in spinal dorsal columns and medial longitudinal
bundle. Commencing myelinization of cranial motor nerves,
followed by afferents (vestibular first); and of reticulospinal,
tectospinal and vestibule-spinal tracts. Myelin lamellae in spinal
nerves (motor before afferent).
28 Facial mimetic muscle reflexes. Cervical reflexes regionally co-
ordinated. Myelin lamellae in spinocerebellar and spinothalamic
tracts.
32 Vestibular reflex effects on eye and limb muscles.
36 Myelin lamellae in cortical projection tracts, and in optic nerves.

BIRTH 36-37
38 Reflex walking, crawling and swimming movements elicitable.
NEONATAL 40 Ocular pursuit movements present. Voluntary control begins.
 42 Reflex head extension in prone position.
50 Visuo-motor reflex on neck, trunk and limb muscles.
Positive supporting reflexes in arms.
60 Head held up in supported sitting position.
INFANCY 64 Sits unsupported. Exploratory creeping.
68 Stands with support. Cerebral dominance emerging.
70 Exploratory crawling. Positive supporting reflexes in legs.
80 Walks with support.
100 Stands and walks unaided.