Cardiac Output
Cardiac output is the amount of blood that passes an
arbitrary point in the circulatory system in a given time. It is
the amount of blood pumped by each ventricle per unit of time. In
a normal person at rest cardiac output is approximately 5,000
ml/min (5 l/min). Cardiac output is defined as the amount of
blood that is ejected by one ventricle in a one minute period of
time. Since the volume of blood passing through the left
ventricle 
must equal the volume passing through the right
ventricle in a normal person without any shunts, cardiac output
can be determined from either ventricle. Mathematically, cardiac
output is determined by multiplying stroke volume for one beat
(the amount of blood ejected by a ventricle) times the heart rate
(beats per minute).
Cardiac output is the amount of blood that passes an
arbitrary point in the circulatory system in a given time. It is
the amount of blood pumped by each ventricle per unit of time. In
a normal person at rest cardiac output is approximately 5,000
ml/min (5 l/min). Cardiac output is defined as the amount of
blood that is ejected by one ventricle in a one minute period of
time. Since the volume of blood passing through the left
ventricle 
must equal the volume passing through the right
ventricle in a normal person without any shunts, cardiac output
can be determined from either ventricle. Mathematically, cardiac
output is determined by multiplying stroke volume for one beat
(the amount of blood ejected by a ventricle) times the heart rate
(beats per minute).