If heart rate increases and stroke volume remains constant, what happens to cardiac output?

Study for the Cardiovascular System Test. Learn about heart anatomy, function, and circulatory pathways with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides detailed explanations. Get prepared for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If heart rate increases and stroke volume remains constant, what happens to cardiac output?

Explanation:
Cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume. If heart rate goes up while stroke volume stays the same, more heartbeats per minute push the same amount of blood per beat, so the total amount pumped per minute increases. For example, raising HR from 60 to 90 bpm with SV fixed at 70 mL per beat raises CO from about 4.2 L/min to about 6.3 L/min. Therefore, cardiac output increases.

Cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume. If heart rate goes up while stroke volume stays the same, more heartbeats per minute push the same amount of blood per beat, so the total amount pumped per minute increases. For example, raising HR from 60 to 90 bpm with SV fixed at 70 mL per beat raises CO from about 4.2 L/min to about 6.3 L/min. Therefore, cardiac output increases.

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