What does cardiac output measure?

Cardiac output measures the volume of blood that the heart pumps per minute, which is a crucial indicator of cardiovascular efficiency and overall heart function. It is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected by the heart with each beat) by the heart rate (the number of beats per minute).

This measurement is vital in assessing how well the heart is able to supply oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues and organs, especially during physical activity or in response to changing bodily demands. Understanding cardiac output is essential for evaluating an individual's fitness level and the health of the cardiovascular system.

The other options pertain to different aspects of cardiovascular health but do not define cardiac output. Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, while the heart's efficiency in using oxygen concerns its metabolic processes. Additionally, the amount of oxygen transported in the blood relates to oxygen content rather than the total blood volume pumped by the heart.