Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What is the average cardiac output per heartbeat in a healthy adult?

1. 250ml

2. 500ml

3. 750ml

4. 1000ml

The correct answer is: 500ml

The average cardiac output per heartbeat in a healthy adult is generally accepted to be around 500 milliliters. This measure is known as stroke volume, which represents the volume of blood pumped from the left ventricle of the heart with each contraction. This value can vary slightly depending on factors such as body size, fitness level, and overall health. However, 500 milliliters is the recognized average, aligning with the physiological norms observed in most healthy adults. Understanding this metric is crucial for evaluating cardiac function and assessing conditions that may affect overall heart performance in both emergency scenarios and ongoing patient care. For context, lower values would indicate a less effective pumping mechanism, often seen in heart failure or other cardiovascular issues, while significantly higher values can occur in well-trained athletes during intense exercise but are not considered average for the general adult population.