Final answer:
The Apgar score is a test used to evaluate a newborn's physical condition immediately after birth. It measures five traits and yields a score between 0 and 10. A score of 7 or above is considered normal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Apgar score is a test used to evaluate a newborn's physical condition immediately after birth. It measures five easy-to-measure traits of the newborn, which are appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone), and respiration.
The Apgar score is given a value of 0, 1, or 2 for each trait, with a maximum score of 10. A score of 7 or above is considered normal, 4-6 is considered fairly low, and a score of 3 or below is considered critically low. The purpose of the Apgar test is to quickly determine if a newborn needs immediate medical care.