How is cardiac output defined?

Cardiac output is defined as the volume of blood that the heart pumps per minute. This measurement is crucial in cardiovascular physiology because it reflects the effectiveness of the heart as a pump and is vital for maintaining adequate blood flow to meet the body's metabolic demands.

Cardiac output is determined by two main factors: heart rate (the number of beats per minute) and stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected with each beat). Therefore, it can be mathematically expressed as:

Cardiac Output (CO) = Heart Rate (HR) × Stroke Volume (SV).

Understanding cardiac output is essential in evaluating cardiac function and diagnosing potential cardiovascular issues. In contrast to other options, the other definitions provided do not accurately represent this vital physiological concept.