Which term refers to the volume of blood pumped by the heart over a specified time?

Cardiac output refers to the volume of blood that the heart pumps in a given time frame, typically measured per minute. It is a critical indicator of heart function and overall cardiovascular health and is calculated by multiplying the heart rate (the number of beats per minute) by the stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat). Understanding cardiac output is essential for assessing how effectively the heart is supplying blood to the body and meeting the metabolic demands of tissues.

Other terms, while related to cardiovascular health, describe different concepts. Cardiac rhythm refers to the regularity of heartbeat patterns, blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and blood volume pertains to the total amount of blood within the body at any given time. While these factors can influence cardiac output, they do not directly define the volume of blood pumped by the heart over time.