What term describes the volume of blood pumped out of the heart each minute?

The term that describes the volume of blood pumped out of the heart each minute is cardiac output. Cardiac output is a critical measurements in understanding the effectiveness of the heart's pumping mechanism and is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume, which is the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat, by the heart rate, the number of heartbeats per minute. Thus, it considers both how much blood is being pumped with each beat and how often the heart is beating in a given time frame.

When discussing heart function, it's essential to appreciate that cardiac output provides a comprehensive view of the heart’s performance and is vital for delivering adequate blood flow to meet the body's metabolic needs. This contrasts with heart rate, which indicates how many times the heart beats in a minute but does not account for the volume of blood moved during each beat. Similarly, stroke volume refers to the amount expelled with each beat, while blood pressure measures the force of blood against the artery walls, rather than the volume pumped.