How do you calculate cardiac output?

• A. Cardiac output is calculated by dividing stroke volume by heart rate.
• B. Cardiac output is calculated by adding heart rate and stroke volume.
• C. Cardiac output is calculated by subtracting stroke volume from heart rate.
• D. Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of cardiac output: Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It is a crucial measure of heart function and overall cardiovascular health.
2. Identify the components needed for the calculation: Cardiac output is determined by two main factors - heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV).
3. Define heart rate: Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. It is usually measured in beats per minute (bpm).
4. Define stroke volume: Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction. It is typically measured in milliliters (mL) per beat.
5. Calculate cardiac output using the formula: Cardiac Output (CO) = Heart Rate (HR) × Stroke Volume (SV). Use MathML to represent this formula: $\mathrm{CO}=\mathrm{HR}\times \mathrm{SV}$.