Glasgow Coma Scale Summary

Glasgow Coma Scale Overview

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses a patient's level of consciousness based on three parameters: Eye response (E), Verbal response (V), and Motor response (M). Each parameter is rated on a scale.

Eye Response (E)

  1. Spontaneous (4) - Opens with blinking at baseline.

  2. Opens to verbal command, speech, or shout (3).

  3. Opens to pain, not applied to face (2).

  4. None (1).

Verbal Response (V)

  1. Oriented (5).

  2. Confused conversation, but able to answer questions (4).

  3. Inappropriate responses, words discernible (3).

  4. Incomprehensible speech (2).

  5. None (1).

Motor Response (M)

  1. Obeys commands for movement (6).

  2. Purposeful movement to painful stimulus (5).

  3. Withdraws from pain (4).

  4. Abnormal (spastic) flexion, decorticate posture (3).

  5. Extensor (rigid) response, decerebrate posture (2).

  6. None (1).