Differentiate between stroke volume and cardiac output. How is cardiac output calculated?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that stroke volume (SV) is the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction or heartbeat. It is usually measured in milliliters (mL) per beat.
2. Recognize that cardiac output (CO) is the total volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It reflects the overall efficiency of the heart in supplying blood to the body.
3. Know that cardiac output depends on two main factors: stroke volume (SV) and heart rate (HR), where heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute.
4. Use the formula to calculate cardiac output: \(\text{CO} = \text{SV} \times \text{HR}\), where CO is cardiac output, SV is stroke volume, and HR is heart rate.
5. To find cardiac output, multiply the stroke volume (in mL/beat) by the heart rate (in beats/minute), which gives the volume of blood pumped per minute (usually in liters per minute after unit conversion).

Key Concepts

Stroke Volume

Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle of the heart during each contraction or heartbeat. It is usually measured in milliliters per beat and reflects the efficiency of the heart in pumping blood.

Cardiac Output

Cardiac output is the total volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It indicates the overall performance of the heart and is essential for meeting the body's oxygen and nutrient demands.

Calculation of Cardiac Output

Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying stroke volume (ml/beat) by heart rate (beats per minute). The formula is CO = SV × HR, which quantifies how much blood is circulated through the body each minute.