The cardiac output is the product of:

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2020

Explanation

Cardiac output (CO) is defined as the total volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute, which is a key measure of heart performance.
The calculation for cardiac output is the product of stroke volume (SV), the volume of blood pumped from a ventricle per beat, and heart rate (HR), the number of beats per minute.
The standard formula is: Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate.
In a healthy adult at rest, the normal cardiac output ranges from 4 to 8 liters per minute.

Option B: Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against artery walls; it is a consequence of cardiac output and peripheral resistance, not a factor used to calculate cardiac output.
Option C: Peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) are interchangeable terms for the resistance the heart pumps against. Resistance is a component in the blood pressure formula (BP = CO × PVR), not the cardiac output formula.
Option D: This combination does not calculate cardiac output. While heart rate is a component of CO, multiplying it by peripheral resistance is incorrect.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Formula for Cardiac Output as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses monitor cardiac output to assess the heart's ability to perfuse tissues with oxygenated blood. A low CO can indicate heart failure or hypovolemia.
Key nursing assessments related to cardiac output include monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, urine output, mental status, and peripheral pulses.
Factors that influence stroke volume, and therefore cardiac output, include preload (ventricular filling), afterload (resistance), and contractility (the heart's pumping strength).

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing a fundamental physiological formula.
First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'cardiac output'.
Recall the definition of cardiac output: the volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute.
Think about the two components that determine this total volume: the amount pumped with each beat (stroke volume) and how many beats occur in a minute (heart rate).
Mentally construct the formula: Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate.
Scan the options provided and select the one that correctly lists these two components.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 25-27

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