How many liters of blood does the average heart pump per minute at rest?

At rest, the average human heart pumps approximately 5 to 6 liters of blood per minute. This measurement is referred to as cardiac output, which is the volume of blood the heart ejects with each beat multiplied by the heart rate. Under resting conditions, the heart operates efficiently to deliver sufficient blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body's organs and tissues without requiring excessive output.

It's important to note that during physical activity or stress, the cardiac output can significantly increase to supply more oxygen and nutrients to active muscles. However, at rest, the body's needs are lower, and thus the heart maintains this average output. This understanding of cardiac output is essential in physiology, especially in contexts such as exercise, medicine, and health sciences.