Cardiac output
Cardiac output measures blood pumped by one ventricle per unit time and is determined by heart rate and stroke volume. It changes with activity, preload, afterload and contractility.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Cardiac output — learning map
Original conceptual SVG · scalableOriginal schematic relationship map for this topic; relationships are organized for study, not intended as an anatomical depiction or a diagnostic algorithm.
Quantify flow
Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume; stroke volume is end-diastolic minus end-systolic ventricular volume.
Preload
Venous return and ventricular compliance influence end-diastolic volume; preload is related to myocardial fiber stretch before contraction.
Afterload
Arterial pressure and ventricular wall stress contribute to the load against which the ventricle ejects.
Contractility and regulation
Autonomic signals, calcium handling, ischemia and cardiomyopathy can affect myocardial performance independently of preload.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.