Stroke volume is defined as:

Stroke volume is defined as:

• A. The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction.
• B. The volume of blood ejected from the right ventricle with each contraction.
• C. The total volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
• D. The amount of blood left in the ventricle after contraction.

Answer: (A)

Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected by a ventricle with each heartbeat. In clinical use, it’s typically described for the left ventricle, which pumps blood into the systemic circulation, so the definition centers on the left ventricle’s output per beat. That’s why the description of the amount ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction is the best answer. The total amount pumped per minute is cardiac output, which combines stroke volume with heart rate. The amount left in the ventricle after contraction is the end-systolic volume, not stroke volume. If you know the end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume, stroke volume is their difference (for example, 120 mL minus 50 mL equals 70 mL).

Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected by a ventricle with each heartbeat. In clinical use, it’s typically described for the left ventricle, which pumps blood into the systemic circulation, so the definition centers on the left ventricle’s output per beat. That’s why the description of the amount ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction is the best answer.

The total amount pumped per minute is cardiac output, which combines stroke volume with heart rate. The amount left in the ventricle after contraction is the end-systolic volume, not stroke volume. If you know the end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume, stroke volume is their difference (for example, 120 mL minus 50 mL equals 70 mL).