title: The heart as a system of coupled nonlinear oscillators.
abstract: In various approximations the heart is considered as a system of coupled nonlinear oscillators which are characterized by their phase transition curve (PTC) only. The system exhibits many phenomena which are known from ECG recordings such as multi-level-Wenckebach periodicity, dissociation, induction or removal of a tachycardia by an extrasystole, pseudo-block and the gap phenomenon. All these can be discussed within the model on a quantitative level.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009991:Oscillometry; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology