Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) is the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute. It is determined by two primary variables:
Cardiac Output=Heart Rate×Stroke Volume
It is continuously adjusted so that the cardiovascular system operates to meet the body’s moment-to-moment movement of needed blood.
Changes in heart rate and stroke volume can be accomplished by alterations in autonomic nerve activity to the heart and by alterations in ventricular filling.