hippocampus
[ hip-uh-kam-puh s ]
/ ˌhɪp əˈkæm pəs /
noun, plural hip·po·cam·pi [hip-uh-kam-pahy, -pee] /ˌhɪp əˈkæm paɪ, -pi/.
Classical Mythology.
a sea horse with two forefeet, and a body ending in the tail of a dolphin or fish.
Anatomy.
an enfolding of cerebral cortex into the lateral fissure of a cerebral hemisphere, having the shape in cross section of a sea horse.
Origin of hippocampus
Words nearby hippocampus
British Dictionary definitions for hippocampi
hippocampus
/ (ˌhɪpəʊˈkæmpəs) /
noun plural -pi (-paɪ)
a mythological sea creature with the forelegs of a horse and the tail of a fish
any marine teleost fish of the genus Hippocampus, having a horselike head
See sea horse
an area of cerebral cortex that forms a ridge in the floor of the lateral ventricle of the brain, which in cross section has the shape of a sea horse. It functions as part of the limbic system
Derived forms of hippocampus
hippocampal, adjectiveWord Origin for hippocampus
C16: from Latin, from Greek
hippos horse +
kampos a sea monster
Medical definitions for hippocampi
hippocampus
[ hĭp′ə-kăm′pəs ]
n. pl. hip•po•cam•pi (-pī′)
The complex, internally convoluted structure that forms the medial margin of the cortical mantle of the cerebral hemisphere, borders the choroid fissure of the lateral ventricle, is composed of two gyri with their white matter, and forms part of the limbic system.
Other words from hippocampus
hip′po•cam′pal (-pəl) adj.Scientific definitions for hippocampi
hippocampus
[ hĭp′ə-kăm′pəs ]
Plural hippocampi (hĭp′ə-kăm′pī′)
A convoluted, seahorse-shaped structure in the cerebral cortex of the temporal lobe of the brain, composed of two gyri with white matter above gray matter. It forms part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing of emotions and memory.