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Why Does The Heart Symbol Look Nothing Like A Real Heart?

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Why Does The Heart Symbol Look Nothing Like A Real Heart?

The heart is an asymmetrical lump of muscle, devoid of emotion, so why do we associate it with our most powerful feeling? And even more to the point, why do we draw it so inaccurately?

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Dominic Grose

Dominic Grose headshot

Dominic Grose

Video Editor

Dominic is an editor whose two main passions are film and science.

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We have drawn heart symbols for centuries as a sign of our affection and love but where did the heart shape come from since it looks nothing like our hearts? Read more about the differences between the anatomical heart and the heart symbol here.

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