The amount of blood pumped through the heart per minute is known as which of the following?

The volume of blood pumped through the heart per minute is referred to as cardiac output. This measurement is crucial as it reflects the efficiency of the heart in supplying oxygenated blood to the body and removing waste products. Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying stroke volume, which is the amount of blood ejected by the heart with each beat, by the heart rate, which is the number of beats per minute.

Understanding cardiac output is vital for assessing cardiovascular fitness and the heart's ability to meet the metabolic demands of the body during various activities. It serves as an important indicator in both clinical settings and exercise physiology. In contrast, the other terms relate to different aspects of cardiovascular health: stroke volume pertains specifically to the volume of blood per heartbeat, venous return refers to the flow of blood back to the heart, and blood pressure measures the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.