Heart beat : The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of heart is called heart beat. Each heart beat includes one systole (contraction) and one diastole (relaxation). The heart of healthy person beats 72 times per minute. This is called heart rate. During each heart beat ventricles pump about 70 ml of blood. This is called stroke volume. It means heart pumps about 72 X 70 ml = 5040 ml or approximately 5 litres of blood per minute. This is called cardiac output.
Tachycardia means fast heart rate usually over 100 beats per minute.
Bradycardia means slow heart rate usually below 60 beats per minute.
Pulse : Pulse is a pressure wave that travels through the arteries after each ventricular systole. The pulse may be felt in any artery that lies near the surface of the body. The radial artery at the wrist is most commonly used to feel the pulse. Since each heart beat generates one pulse in the arteries, the pulse rate per minute indicates the heart rate. Thus pulse rate is same as that of heart rate, 72 per minute.
Pulse rate is higher in children, females and standing position. It is lower in adults, males and lying position. It increases in emotional state (anger, fear, excitement) and during exrecise.