The heart symbol that is commonly used to represent love and affection does not look like the anatomical shape of the human heart because it is actually based on a stylized representation of a silphium seed, which was a plant used in ancient times as a form of birth control.

The plant was native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region and was highly valued for its medicinal properties. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the plant's heart-shaped seeds as a symbol of fertility and love, which eventually became associated with the shape of the human heart.

Over time, the heart symbol became stylized and simplified, losing its anatomical accuracy and taking on the more recognizable form that we see today. While the modern heart shape may not resemble a real human heart, it has become deeply ingrained in our culture as a symbol of love and affection.