Hilum

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Hilum \Hi"lum\, n. [L., a little thing, trifle.]
     1. (Bot.) 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; -- called also {hile}.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Anat.) The part of a gland, or similar organ, where the
        blood vessels and nerves enter; the hilus; as, the hilum
        of the kidney.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hilum
       n 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)]