Dictionary Definition

hilum

1 (anatomy) a depression or fissure where vessels or nerves or ducts enter a bodily organ; "the hilus of the kidney" [syn: hilus]

2 the scar on certain seeds marking its point of attachment to the funicle [also: hila (pl)]

User Contributed Dictionary

The eye of a bean or other seed; the mark or scar at the point of attachment of an ovule or seed to its base or support.
The nucleus of a starch grain.
A depression or fissure through which ducts, nerves, or blood vessels enter and leave a gland or organ. Also called porta.

A hilum (formerly called a hilus) is a depression or pit where structures are attached.

In human anatomy, the hilum is part of an organ where structures such as blood vessels and nerves enter.
- The hilum of kidney (admits the renal artery, vein, ureter, and nerves) is the medial depression for blood vessels and ureter to enter the kidney chamber is the renal hilum.
- splenic hilum
- hilum of lung
In botany, the hilum is a scar where the seed was attached to the ovary wall by the funiculus.

The adjective form is "hilar," and the plural is "hila."

hilum in German: Hilum

hilum in Spanish: Hilio

hilum in French: Hile

hilum in Swedish: Hilus