What is the medical term for heart rate?

The medical term for heart rate is "pulse." The pulse is the physical representation of the heart rate, reflecting the number of times the heart beats per minute. It can be felt in various areas of the body where arteries are close to the skin, such as the wrist or neck, making it a common method for assessing heart rate. Monitoring the pulse can provide important information about heart function and overall cardiovascular health.

Rhythm, while related to heart function, refers to the pattern of the heartbeats, rather than the speed of the heartbeat itself. Cardiac output is a measure of the effective amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute, which takes into account both heart rate and stroke volume. Heart rate variability refers to the variation in time between successive heartbeats, which can provide insights into autonomic nervous system function, but it is not synonymous with heart rate itself.