Cardiac output is the amount of blood that the heart pumps in one minute. It is a crucial measure of how well the heart is functioning and is typically expressed in liters per minute. Cardiac output is determined by two main factors: heart rate, which is the number of beats per minute, and stroke volume, the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat. A healthy cardiac output is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues. Factors such as exercise, stress, and overall health can influence cardiac output. Monitoring it can help detect heart conditions and assess overall cardiovascular health.