What does HILUM mean?

Parts of Speech:

Noun

Definitions:

1. A scar or mark on a seed or a bean where it was attached to the plant.
2. A depression or fissure in an organ or tissue, such as the lungs, where vessels and nerves enter or exit.

Pronunciations:

• US: /ˈhaɪləm/
• UK: /ˈhʌɪləm/

Origin and Usage:

The word "hilum" comes from Latin and means "small thing" or "trifle". In botany, it refers to the scar left on a seed or a bean where it was attached to the plant. In medicine, it refers to a depression or fissure in an organ or tissue where vessels and nerves enter or exit.

Synonyms:

• For the botanical definition: scar, mark, point of attachment
• For the medical definition: fissure, depression, notch

Related Words:

• hilar
• hilts
• hilum
• hilly
• hilus

Example Sentences:

1. The hilum on the bean shows where it was attached to the plant.
2. The hilum of the lung is the site of entry and exit for blood vessels and bronchi.