Cardiac output is determined by which two factors?

Cardiac output is the volume of blood that the heart pumps per minute and is primarily determined by two key factors: heart rate and stroke volume. Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats in a minute, while stroke volume pertains to the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat.

When these two factors are understood together, they provide a clear picture of how efficiently the heart is functioning. An increase in heart rate or stroke volume will lead to an increase in cardiac output. Conversely, a decrease in either rate or volume can lower cardiac output. This relationship is essential for maintaining adequate blood flow throughout the body to meet the metabolic demands of tissues and organs.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary determinants of cardiac output. While blood pressure is influenced by cardiac output, it is not one of the components that directly determines it. Additionally, respiratory rate and volume of blood, while important to overall health and hydration status, do not directly correlate with the calculation of cardiac output in the way that heart rate and stroke volume do.