What is the equation to calculate cardiac output?

Cardiac output is a crucial measurement that indicates the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It is calculated by multiplying stroke volume, which is the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat, by the heart rate, which is the number of heartbeats per minute. This relationship highlights that as either the stroke volume or heart rate increases, the cardiac output will also increase, provided the other remains constant. This formula is fundamental in understanding how effective the heart is at supplying blood to the body, affecting vital organ function and overall health.

The other choices describe relationships and formulas that do not accurately portray the calculation of cardiac output. For example, the sum of heart rate and stroke volume does not reflect the volume of blood being pumped; rather, it combines different physiological metrics without yielding a meaningful value related to cardiac output. Similarly, dividing blood pressure by stroke volume does not produce cardiac output, and considering peripheral vascular resistance with blood pressure does not pertain directly to the cardiac output equation.