Final answer:
Stroke volume is the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each contraction, and it is a key factor in calculating cardiac output, which also depends on heart rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stroke volume (SV) is defined as the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction. It is one component in determining cardiac output, which is the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute. Cardiac output (CO) is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume by the heart rate. During the ventricular ejection phase of the cardiac cycle, the heart contracts and pumps blood out through the pulmonary and aortic valves; the volume of blood ejected is the stroke volume, typically ranging from 70-80 mL.