4.5.6

Cardiac Output

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Calculating Cardiac Output

Cardiac output is the amount of blood that the heart pumps in a minute. It is essentially a measure of how hard the heart is working, and it can be calculated.

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Cardiac output

  • Cardiac output is a measure of how hard the heart is working.
  • The amount of blood being pumped by the heart per minute is the cardiac output, and we can calculate it using heart rate and stroke volume.
  • Heart rate is the number of beats per minute.
  • Stroke volume is the volume of blood being pumped out by the left ventricle per beat.
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Calculating cardiac output

  • We calculate cardiac output using this equation:
    • Cardiac output = beats per minute x stroke volume
  • The higher the heart beat, and the higher the stroke volume, the higher the cardiac output.
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Changes to cardiac output

  • Cardiac output can change, and is controlled by the cardiac control centre in the medulla oblongata.
  • Increasing heart rate or stroke volume enables oxygen to be delivered to tissues more rapidly, and waste products can be taken away more quickly.
  • This is important in exercise.

Jump to other topics

1Principles of Science I

1.1Structure & Bonding

1.2Properties of Substances

1.3Cell Structure & Function

1.4Cell Specialisation

1.5Tissue Structure & Function

1.6Working with Waves

1.7Waves in Communication

2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques

3Science Investigation Skills

4Principles of Science II

4.1Extracting Elements

4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances

4.3Organic Chemistry

4.4Energy Changes in Industry

4.5The Circulatory System

4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange

4.7Urinary System

4.8Cell Transport

4.9Thermal Physics

4.10Materials

4.11Fluids

5Contemporary Issues in Science

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