heartstring

Heartstring, in anatomical terms, most often denotes the chordae tendineae, the slender cords that tether the leaflets of the mitral and tricuspid valves to papillary muscles in the ventricles. These cords, composed mainly of collagen, help coordinate valve closure by resisting ballooning of the leaflets during ventricular contraction. Together with papillary muscles, they prevent valve prolapse and maintain one-way blood flow. Chordae can vary in length and thickness; rupture or elongation can arise from trauma, degenerative disease, infective endocarditis, or ischemic injury.

In clinical practice, damage to the heartstrings can cause valvular regurgitation and may be treated with repair or replacement. Chordal repair or the use of artificial chordae (neochordae) are methods to restore leaflet coaptation.

Heartstring also has a prominent figurative use in English; the phrase "pull at one's heartstrings" describes something that evokes tender emotion or sympathy. In literature and media, the term is common in discussions of sentimentality, drama, or humanitarian appeal.

Although common in the singular as a metaphor, the technical term is "chordae tendineae"; "heartstrings" is the typical plural form used for the anatomical cords, while "heartstring" is occasionally encountered in older texts or as a literary device.