The number of times the heart beats per minute is called what?

• A. Cardiac Output
• B. Heart Rate
• C. Stroke Volume
• D. Venous Return

Answer: (B)

The rate at which the heart beats per minute is called heart rate. It tells you how many times the heart contracts each minute, usually measured in beats per minute (bpm). This is different from cardiac output, which is the total volume of blood pumped per minute and depends on both heart rate and stroke volume. Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected with each beat, while venous return is the amount of blood returning to the heart. So for the question of how many times the heart beats per minute, heart rate is the right term.