Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

The equation for calculating stroke volume is based on the difference between end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume. Stroke volume is defined as the amount of blood ejected from the ventricles during each heartbeat.

End-diastolic volume represents the maximum volume of blood in the ventricles just before contraction, while end-systolic volume is the volume remaining in the ventricles after contraction. By subtracting the end-systolic volume from the end-diastolic volume, you effectively measure how much blood the heart pumps out with each beat, which is the very definition of stroke volume.

This fundamental equation is key in understanding cardiac physiology and assessing heart function, making it essential knowledge for anyone studying echocardiography or cardiovascular medicine. Other options provided do not accurately represent the stroke volume calculation. For instance, subtracting cardiac output by heart rate would not yield stroke volume as it conflates multiple concepts, and measuring the volume of blood in the ventricles does not provide a functional metric of the heart's pumping efficiency.