📋 Source: Glasgow Coma Scale: Teasdale G & Jennett B. Lancet 1974. Revised GCS: Teasdale GM et al. BMJ Open 2014. Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.
Bedside neurological assessment. Score eye, verbal, and motor responses — total updates live.
CliniciansAUTeasdale & Jennett 1974
GCS Total
E:— V:— M:—
—
Eye opening (E) —
Spontaneous4
To voice / sound3
To pain / pressure2
None1
Verbal response (V) —
Oriented5
Confused4
Words (inappropriate)3
Sounds (incomprehensible)2
None1
Motor response (M) —
Obeys commands6
Localises to pain5
Withdraws from pain4
Abnormal flexion (decorticate)3
Abnormal extension (decerebrate)2
None1
Clinical tool only. GCS requires direct patient assessment and cannot be substituted by proxy reporting. GCS has known limitations including reduced validity in intubated patients (verbal = NT) and in patients with pre-existing neurological conditions. Always document GCS as E+V+M (e.g. E3V4M5 = GCS 12) in addition to the total. GCS alone does not guide management — always apply full clinical assessment.
Sources
Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness: a practical scale. The Lancet. 1974;304(7872):81–84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(74)91639-0
Teasdale G, Maas A, Lecky F, et al. The Glasgow Coma Scale at 40 years. The Lancet Neurology. 2014;13(8):844–854. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70120-6