It can be helpful in determining the level of a central nervous system (CNS) lesion.
Being a superficial reflex, it is polysynaptic (involving multiple connections between nerves).
Physiological absent response can be due to obesity, frailty, or muscle laxity after multiple pregnancies or abdominal surgery.
[2] If the reflex is absent, or especially if it is asymmetric, it can indicate a neurological problem somewhere above the lower thoracic spine.
[1] Pathological absence can be due to:[3] The local contraction of the abdominal muscles to an abdominal sensory stimulus was to protect the internal viscera from damage.