The Glasgow Coma Scale scores are based on which patient responses?

• A. Eye, Verbal, and Motor responses
• B. Blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate
• C. Pupillary response, facial symmetry, limb strength
• D. Gait, balance, and coordination

Answer: (B)

The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses level of consciousness by three observable responses: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each domain has its own scoring rubric, and the total score (ranging from 3 to 15) reflects how awake and responsive the patient is. Eye opening looks at whether the patient opens eyes spontaneously, to speech, to painful stimuli, or not at all. Verbal response evaluates whether the patient is oriented and coherent, confused, uses inappropriate words, makes incomprehensible sounds, or has no verbal response. Motor response assesses the ability to follow commands, localize pain, withdraw from pain, show abnormal flexion or extension, or have no motor response. Because of this focus, the scale is not based on vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate, nor on pupillary response, facial symmetry, limb strength, gait, balance, or coordination.