What does APGAR stand for?

• A. A - Appearance; P - Pulse; G - Grimace; A - Activity; R - Respiratory
• B. A - Appearance; P - Pressure; G - Grimace; A - Activity; R - Respiratory
• C. A - Appearance; P - Pulse; G - Grimace; A - Alertness; R - Respiratory
• D. A - Appearance; P - Pulse; G - Grimace; A - Activity; R - Rest

Answer: (A)

APGAR is a quick newborn scoring system that stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiratory. Each category is scored 0, 1, or 2 to give a total 0–10 score, helping clinicians assess how well a newborn tolerated birth and how well they are responding to resuscitation if needed. Appearance looks at skin color, Pulse checks heart rate, Grimace assesses reflex irritability, Activity reflects muscle tone, and Respiratory evaluates breathing effort. The option listing Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiratory matches these terms exactly, while alternatives swap in terms like Pressure, Alertness, or Rest, which aren’t part of the APGAR mnemonic.