NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What is the product of heart rate and stroke volume referred to as?

1. Blood Volume

2. Cardiac Flow

3. Cardiac Output

4. Systemic Pressure

The correct answer is: Cardiac Output

The product of heart rate and stroke volume is referred to as cardiac output. Cardiac output is a critical physiological measure that indicates the efficiency of the heart in pumping blood. It reflects the volume of blood the heart ejects in one minute and is a significant factor for assessing cardiovascular fitness and overall health. Cardiac output can be expressed mathematically by the formula: Cardiac Output = Heart Rate x Stroke Volume. Here, heart rate refers to the number of beats per minute, while stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat. Understanding this relationship helps trainers and healthcare professionals evaluate an individual's cardiovascular efficiency and tailor exercise programs accordingly. On the other hand, blood volume refers to the total amount of blood in the circulatory system, which is not directly related to the product of heart rate and stroke volume. Cardiac flow is a less commonly used term that might refer to the movement of blood through the circulatory system but does not specifically denote the product of heart rate and stroke volume. Systemic pressure pertains to the pressure within the systemic circulation, reflecting the force of blood against the walls of blood vessels, which is also not directly linked to the concept of cardiac output.