Which factor affects how much blood is pumped by the heart during one minute?

The amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute can be accurately described by the combination of heart rate and stroke volume. This product, known as cardiac output, is essential for providing adequate circulation to meet the body's demands.

Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats in one minute, while stroke volume is the volume of blood ejected by the heart with each beat. By assessing these two factors together, we understand that a higher heart rate or a greater stroke volume will result in an increased cardiac output. This is particularly important in situations of increased demand, such as during exercise or stress, where the body requires more oxygen and nutrients transported through the bloodstream.

The other options do touch upon important aspects related to cardiac function, such as age, gender, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and the efficiency of the cardiac conduction system. However, they do not directly measure the heart's pumping capacity in terms of blood flow per minute like heart rate and stroke volume do. Therefore, it is the combination of heart rate and stroke volume that directly influences the quantity of blood pumped by the heart within one minute.