CUORE

Cuore is the Italian noun for "heart." Etymology traces it to Latin cor, cordis, passing through Old Italian forms, and it is used to refer both to the anatomical organ and to metaphorical meanings of central emotional life. In Italian, the plural is cuori.

Anatomy and function: The heart is a muscular organ located in the thoracic cavity, between the lungs. It consists of four chambers: right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle. It maintains circulation by pumping blood through two separate circuits: the pulmonary circuit and the systemic circuit. Its rhythm is controlled by electrical impulses that coordinate atrial and ventricular contractions; a typical resting heart rate for adults ranges from about 60 to 100 beats per minute. The heart receives blood via the coronary arteries and is nourished by these vessels.

In culture: In addition to its anatomical meaning, cuore appears in Italian literature, music and idioms. The 1886 novel Cuore (Heart) by Edmondo De Amicis is a classic work of Italian children's literature, presented as the diary of a pupil in a Turin school and renowned for its moral episodes. Idioms include avere a cuore something (to care about it) and mettere il cuore in something (put one’s heart into it), reflecting the heart as a symbol of emotion and commitment.