What is cardiac output?

What is cardiac output?

• A. The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute.
• B. The volume of blood remaining in the ventricle after systole.
• C. The rate at which the ventricles relax during diastole.
• D. The pressure difference between the aorta and the left ventricle.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is what cardiac output represents. Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps into the circulation each minute. It captures how much blood is delivered to the body over time, and it is calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume (CO = HR × SV). This is why the option describing the volume the heart pumps per minute is correct. End-systolic volume is the amount of blood left in the ventricle after a heartbeat, not the amount pumped per minute. The rate at which the ventricles relax during diastole is about diastolic function or lusitropy, not overall flow. The pressure difference between the aorta and the left ventricle reflects afterload, not the total volume pumped per minute.

The main idea being tested is what cardiac output represents. Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps into the circulation each minute. It captures how much blood is delivered to the body over time, and it is calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume (CO = HR × SV). This is why the option describing the volume the heart pumps per minute is correct.

End-systolic volume is the amount of blood left in the ventricle after a heartbeat, not the amount pumped per minute. The rate at which the ventricles relax during diastole is about diastolic function or lusitropy, not overall flow. The pressure difference between the aorta and the left ventricle reflects afterload, not the total volume pumped per minute.