What is cardiac output equal to?

Cardiac output is a fundamental concept in cardiovascular physiology, defined as the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat, by the heart rate, the number of beats per minute. This relationship highlights how both the rate of heart contractions and the volume of blood ejected with each contraction contribute to the overall performance of the heart.

By understanding that cardiac output reflects the effectiveness of the heart in delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues, the correct calculation is crucial for assessing cardiovascular health. Integrating both stroke volume and heart rate provides a comprehensive view of cardiac performance, which is vital in various clinical settings.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the relationship necessary to calculate cardiac output, which reinforces the distinction and importance of the components involved.