Which components compose the Glasgow Coma Scale scoring system?

• A. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate
• B. Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
• C. Temperature, pupil reaction, reflexes
• D. Oxygen saturation, capillary refill, skin perfusion

Answer: (B)

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a quick way to gauge level of consciousness by looking at three observable brain functions: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each domain is scored separately and added together to give a total from 3 to 15. Eye opening ranges from 4 (spontaneous) to 1 (no opening). Verbal response ranges from 5 (oriented) to 1 (no sound). Motor response ranges from 6 (obeys commands) to 1 (no movement). This structure directly assesses arousal, language/communication, and purposeful movement, which together reflect how well the brain is functioning after injury. Other options mix in vital signs or non-neurological tests (like temperature, perfusion, or reflexes) that do not measure consciousness in the structured way the Glasgow Coma Scale does. For example, eye opening, verbal, and motor responses specifically track neurological responsiveness rather than systemic parameters.