USMLE · Question #339
If a newborn exhibits a heart rate of 80 bpm the APGAR score should be?
The correct answer is B. 1. Option B (1) is correct because the APGAR scoring for heart rate assigns 1 point when the pulse is detectable but slow - specifically, below 100 bpm. At 80 bpm, the newborn has a heart rate, but it is insufficient, placing it in this middle category. A (0) is wrong because a…
Question
If a newborn exhibits a heart rate of 80 bpm the APGAR score should be?
Options
- A0
- B1
- C2
- D3
How the community answered
(46 responses)- A9% (4)
- B85% (39)
- C2% (1)
- D4% (2)
Explanation
Option B (1) is correct because the APGAR scoring for heart rate assigns 1 point when the pulse is detectable but slow - specifically, below 100 bpm. At 80 bpm, the newborn has a heart rate, but it is insufficient, placing it in this middle category.
- A (0) is wrong because a score of 0 is only given when no heartbeat is detected at all - 80 bpm is a present, measurable pulse.
- C (2) is wrong because a score of 2 requires a heart rate of 100 bpm or greater, indicating a vigorous, healthy rate.
- D (3) is wrong because the APGAR scale for any single criterion only goes from 0 to 2; a score of 3 is impossible for a single category.
Memory tip: Think of the heart rate component as a traffic light - 0 = no pulse (red/stop), 1 = slow/under 100 (yellow/caution), 2 = 100+ bpm (green/go). Any number you can count but that falls short of 100 always earns a yellow "1."
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