Beevor's sign can be used to determine the level of injury to the thoracic spinal cord.
Beevor's sign is considered positive if the navel moves up when the person actively flexes the neck.
A positive Beevor's sign occurs if the lower abdominal musculature (controlled by the spinal cord below T9) are relatively weaker than the upper abdominal musculature.
Upper Abdominal Muscles |
Lower Abdominal Muscles |
Beevor's Sign |
normal |
normal |
negative |
normal |
weak |
positive |
normal |
nonfunctioning |
positive |
weak |
nonfunctioning |
positive |
nonfunctioning |
nonfunctioning |
negative |
Specialty: Neurology