How is cardiac output (CO) calculated?

Cardiac output (CO) is calculated as the product of stroke volume and heart rate. Stroke volume refers to the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat, and heart rate refers to the number of heartbeats per minute. By multiplying these two values together, one can determine the total volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, which is crucial for assessing the efficiency of the heart's function and the body's ability to meet its metabolic demands.

Understanding this calculation is essential for evaluating cardiovascular health, as a decrease in cardiac output can lead to inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery, potentially resulting in critical health issues. The other methods of calculation do not accurately represent how cardiac output is determined, highlighting the importance of the heart's dual role in pumping and rhythm in ensuring effective circulation.