Final answer:
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate a person's level of consciousness after a head injury or other medical conditions affecting the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate a person's level of consciousness after a head injury or other medical conditions affecting the brain. It assesses three main areas: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each area is assigned a score, and the scores are added together to determine the overall GCS score.
The GCS ranges from 3 to 15, with a score of 15 indicating normal neurological function and a score of 3 indicating deep coma. The scale helps medical professionals assess the severity of a brain injury and monitor changes in a patient's condition over time.
For example, if a person is unable to follow commands, open their eyes, or speak coherently, their GCS score will be lower, indicating a more severe brain injury. On the other hand, if a person is able to follow commands, have an appropriate verbal response, and move all limbs purposefully, their GCS score will be higher, indicating a less severe injury.