The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses consciousness based on which three domains?

• A. Eye opening, verbal response, and motor response
• B. Pupil size, corneal reflex, and respiratory pattern
• C. Limb strength, sensation, and coordination
• D. Language comprehension, memory, and planning

Answer: (A)

Consciousness in the Glasgow Coma Scale is gauged by how a person opens their eyes and responds verbally and motorically to stimuli. Eye opening measures arousal: spontaneous opening, opening to speech, opening to pain, or no opening at all. Verbal response assesses orientation and coherence: the patient may be oriented and speak normally, be confused, produce inappropriate words, utter incomprehensible sounds, or be mute. Motor response tests the ability to follow commands and react to stimuli: obeying commands, localizing a painful stimulus, withdrawing from pain, showing abnormal flexion, abnormal extension, or no movement. Each domain is scored separately and the total score reflects the overall level of consciousness—the higher the score, the better the level of consciousness. Other neurological checks like pupil size, corneal reflex, or respiratory pattern assess brainstem function and aren’t part of the GCS, and cognitive domains such as language, memory, and planning aren’t what the GCS uses to gauge consciousness.