Explain cardiac cycle and cardiac output

Solution:

Cardiac cycle refers to the complete cycle of heart events from initiation of one heartbeat, following its completion, to the initiation of next heartbeat. It includes events like contraction, relaxation and filling.

Cardiac output is the result of cardiac cycle in one minute i.e. the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute. It is given by the formula:
Cardiac output = Stroke volume X Heart rate.