Which is the correct order from earliest to latest in Nysten's law?

Which is the correct order from earliest to latest in Nysten's law?

• A. Head (facial muscles) first, legs last
• B. Legs first, head last
• C. Torso first, limbs last
• D. All at once

Answer: (A)

Motor development in infants follows a head-to-toe pattern. Nysten's law describes how muscle control and movement begin in the head region (facial muscles and neck) and progressively extend caudally to the trunk and then the limbs, so the earliest control is in the head and the legs are last. This is why the sequence head first, legs last is the best answer. Patterns like legs first, torso first, or movements happening all at once don’t align with this cranial-to-caudal maturation.

Motor development in infants follows a head-to-toe pattern. Nysten's law describes how muscle control and movement begin in the head region (facial muscles and neck) and progressively extend caudally to the trunk and then the limbs, so the earliest control is in the head and the legs are last. This is why the sequence head first, legs last is the best answer. Patterns like legs first, torso first, or movements happening all at once don’t align with this cranial-to-caudal maturation.