Editing Cardiac output (section)

==Definition==
The function of the heart is to drive blood through the [[circulatory system]] in a cycle that delivers oxygen, nutrients and chemicals to the body's cells and removes cellular waste. Because it pumps out whatever blood comes back into it from the [[venous system]], the quantity of blood returning to the heart effectively determines the quantity of blood the heart pumps out – its cardiac output, ''Q''. Cardiac output is classically defined alongside [[stroke volume]] (SV) and the [[heart rate]] (HR) as:{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

{{NumBlk2|:|<math>CO_\text{[L/min]} = SV_\text{[L/beat]} \times HR_\text{[beats/min]}</math>|1}}
In standardizing what CO values are considered to be within normal range independent of the size of the subject's body, the accepted convention is to further index equation ({{EquationNote|1}}) using [[body surface area]] (BSA), giving rise to the [[Cardiac index]] (CI). This is detailed in equation ({{EquationNote|2}}) below.