How is cardiac output defined in cardiovascular physiology?

Cardiac output is defined as the volume of blood that the heart pumps per minute. This measure is a crucial component of cardiovascular physiology as it describes the efficiency and effectiveness of the heart in delivering oxygen-rich blood to the body's tissues. Cardiac output is integral in determining the overall cardiovascular health and can be influenced by factors such as heart rate and stroke volume, which are the number of beats per minute and the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat, respectively.

Understanding cardiac output is essential for assessing cardiac function during various physical activities and in clinical settings, making it a fundamental concept in health and fitness. The other options highlight aspects related to the cardiovascular system, such as blood flow, volume, and pressure, but they do not capture the complete definition of cardiac output, which specifically pertains to the volume of blood pumped by the heart in a given timeframe.