The heart is a vital organ that pumps blood throughout the body. Although the familiar heart symbol we often see is a stylized representation, the actual shape of a human heart is more like an inverted cone. It's roughly the size of your fist and has a rounded bottom, smooth sides, and a thick arch of blood vessels at the top.
The common heart shape, with its pointed top and rounded base, originated from an ancient plant called silphium, which was used as an aphrodisiac. The seed of this plant resembled the heart shape we know today, and because of its association with love and desire, the shape became a symbol of romance.
In summary:
- The actual human heart is shaped like an inverted cone.
- The heart symbol we use today is based on the shape of the silphium plant seed.
