Oppenheim sign

System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

Firmly stroking down the front of the shin makes the big toe extend upward.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with corticospinal tract lesions; one of several Babinski-equivalent responses.

◈ Behind the name

Hermann Oppenheim (1858–1919), German neurologist.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.