Question

An average cardiac output of an adult is:

• A. 5300 ml/min
• B. 5250 ml/min
• C. 5200 ml/min
• D. 5350 ml/min

Hint:

Remember: Normal cardiac output = 5 L/min (approx). Use CO = SV × HR.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding cardiac output.
Cardiac output (CO) is the volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per minute.
It is calculated as:
\[ CO = Stroke \, Volume \times Heart \, Rate \] Step 2: Normal values.
- Stroke volume in an average adult = 70 ml/beat.
- Heart rate in an average adult = 72 beats/min.
Thus,
\[ CO = 70 \times 72 = 5040 \, ml/min \approx 5.2 \, L/min \] Step 3: Clinical importance.
Cardiac output ensures adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
Any significant deviation (too low or too high) may indicate heart failure, shock, or compensatory mechanisms.
Step 4: Analysis of options.
- (A) 5300 ml/min: Slightly higher, not the typical reference.
- (B) 5250 ml/min: Close but not standard.
- (C) 5200 ml/min: Correct, widely accepted average value.
- (D) 5350 ml/min: Too high compared to normal resting values.
Step 5: Conclusion.
The average cardiac output of an adult is about 5200 ml/min.