Apgar score


noun

a numerical measure of the physical health of a newborn infant derived by evaluating heart rate, muscle tone, respiratory effort, response to stimulation, skin color, and other physiological indicators.

Origin of Apgar score

named after V. Apgar

British Dictionary definitions for apgar score

apgar score

apgar rating

/ (ˈæpɡɑː) /

noun

a system for determining the condition of an infant at birth by allotting a maximum of 2 points to each of the following: heart rate, breathing effort, muscle tone, response to stimulation, and colour

Word Origin for apgar score

C20: named after V. Apgar (1909–74), US anaesthetist

Medical definitions for apgar score

Apgar score
[ ăpgär ]

n.

A system of evaluating a newborn's physical condition by assigning a value (0, 1, or 2) to each of five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimuli, and skin color.

Scientific definitions for apgar score

Apgar score
[ ăpgär ]

A score that assesses the general physical condition of a newborn infant by assigning a value of 0, 1, or 2 to each of five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, skin color, and response to stimuli. The five scores are added together, with a perfect score being 10. Apgar scores are usually evaluated at one minute and five minutes after birth. The Apgar score is named for the system's deviser, American physician Virginia Apgar (1909-1974).