How many points corresponds to 'spontaneous' eye opening on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

On the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), eye-opening responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 4 points. The various eye-opening responses are defined as follows:

• A score of 4 points is awarded for 'spontaneous' eye opening, which indicates that the patient opens their eyes without any external stimuli or prompts. This is indicative of a higher level of consciousness and neurological function.

• Other forms of eye response are scored lower. For example, a score of 3 points is given for eye opening in response to verbal command, 2 points for eye opening in response to pain, and 1 point for no eye opening at all.

Thus, the correct answer, 4 points for 'spontaneous' eye opening, accurately reflects the highest level of eye response on the GCS. This scoring system is crucial in assessing the level of consciousness in a patient and helps determine the severity of brain injury or other medical conditions affecting brain function.