What is the term for the number of heartbeats per minute?

• A. Pulse rate
• B. Heart rate
• C. Blood pressure
• D. Cardiac output

Answer: (B)

The number of heartbeats per minute is heart rate. It tells you how fast the heart is working. You can measure it by counting the beats in a minute, or by checking a pulse, since each heartbeat typically creates a pulse felt in arteries like the wrist or neck. Blood pressure describes the force of blood against artery walls, not how often the heart beats. Cardiac output, on the other hand, is the total amount of blood pumped per minute and depends on both heart rate and how much blood is ejected with each beat (stroke volume). So, when you’re asked for the term describing beats per minute, heart rate is the correct one.