Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 480

What is the consequence of decreased heart rate on cardiac output if stroke volume remains unchanged?

Increased cardiac output

Decreased cardiac output

Cardiac output is determined by the formula: Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate. If the stroke volume remains unchanged and the heart rate decreases, the overall cardiac output will also decrease. This is because a lower heart rate means fewer beats per minute, which directly reduces the total volume of blood pumped by the heart in a given timeframe.

For instance, if the heart rate drops from 80 beats per minute to 60 beats per minute while the stroke volume remains constant, the total output in a minute will be less with the lower heart rate. Hence, the consequence of a decreased heart rate, assuming stroke volume is constant, is a decrease in cardiac output. This relationship emphasizes the importance of heart rate in determining how much blood the heart can effectively distribute throughout the body.

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Stable cardiac output

Variable cardiac output

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