Final Answer:
The five components of the Apgar assessment are Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Muscle Tone, Reflexes, and Color. Each component is scored on a scale of 0 to 2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Apgar assessment is a quick evaluation performed on a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. It assesses the baby's overall health and helps medical professionals determine if any immediate interventions are needed. The five components are Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Muscle Tone, Reflexes, and Color. Each component receives a score between 0 and 2, with 2 indicating normal function, 1 indicating some compromise, and 0 indicating no activity or severe compromise.
Heart Rate assesses the baby's pulse, Respiratory Rate evaluates breathing efforts, Muscle Tone gauges the infant's overall muscle activity, Reflexes check for responses, and Color examines skin tone. The total score, ranging from 0 to 10, helps healthcare providers make rapid decisions about the newborn's condition and any required interventions.