heartstrings

noun

1. (historical, plural, plural-normally)The tendons or other structures resembling cords once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart; especially the aorta, pulmonary artery, and other large arteries connected to them; also, the diaphragm.

   “Harte ſtrynges uenies de cuevr.”

   “The Ueynes are ſpred foorth throughout the whole bodie, howbeit from one welhead, that is to ſay from the Liuer: ſo be the Sinews, howbeit from the Brayne; So likewiſe are the Heartſtrings, howbeit from the Heart.”

   “The midriffe and heart-ſtrings do burn and beat very fearfully, and vvhen this vapour or fume is ſtirred, flyeth upvvard, the heart it ſelf beats, is ſore grieved, and faints, […]”

   “Once she sprang as the heifer springs / With the wolf's teeth at its red heart-strings: / First 'twas fire in her breast and brain, / And then scarce hers but the whole world's pain, / As she gave one shriek and sank again.”

2. (broadly, plural, plural-normally)Synonym of chordae tendineae (“the cord-like tendons that connect the papillary muscles to the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve in the heart”).

   “The atrioventricular valves are prevented from turning inside out by strands of connective tissue, which run from their underside to the walls of the ventricle. These are the so-called heartstrings or chordae tendin[e]ae.”

   “Joined to the free ends of the AV [atrioventricular] valves are a number of cords called chordae tendineae (heart strings) attaching them to muscles in the wall of the ventricle. The heart strings keep the AV flaps pointing in the direction of the blood flow, stopping them being turned "inside out" and forced through the atria. The semilunar valves do not have heart strings. Blood flowing the wrong way makes the cusps balloon out so that their edges seal tight.”

   “[M]y precious Toby Chihuahua, soon to be twelve years old, had a heart attack. As a result, one or more of his chordae tendineae, or heartstrings, ruptured. Until very recently, this condition was curtains for a dog, but new meds are keeping him alive for now.”

3. (figuratively, plural, plural-normally)The source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.

   “The sad eyes of the orphan tugged at my heartstrings.”

   “Soone as ſhe heard the name of Artegall, / Her hart did leape, and all her hart-ſtrings tremble, / For ſudden ioy, and ſecret feare vvithall, […]”

   “For thee thou faireſt, yet the falſeſt vvoman, / That ever broke mans heart-ſtrings.”

   “She's gone, and pull'd my heart-ſtrings as ſhe vvent.”

   “[T]he Regret of parting vvith a young VVoman, vvhom he loved as tenderly as he did his Heartſtrings […]”

4. (archaic, figuratively, plural, plural-normally)The essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart.

   “And for to ſeeke out gemmes and ſome little ſtones, vve ſtrike pits deep vvithin the ground. Thus vvee plucke the very heart-ſtrings out of her [the Earth], and all to vveare on our finger one gemme or precious ſtone, to fulfill our pleaſure and deſire.”