Question

Cardiac output signifies

• A. The volume of blood entering the heart per unit time
• B. The volume of blood entering the lungs per unit time
• C. The volume of blood leaving the heart per unit time
• D. The volume of blood leaving the lungs per unit time

Answer 1

The correct option is C

The volume of blood leaving the heart per unit time

Cardiac output is the total volume of heart pumped out by the heart (either of the ventricles) per minute. Effectively it is: stroke volume X heart rate per minute. (Stroke volume being the volume of blood pumped by either ventricles per cardiac cycle)