Hilum
/ˈhaɪləm/noun
The point of attachment or entry of vessels or structures in an organ, especially in the kidney or lung.
Did you know?Hilum comes from Latin hīlum, which originally meant a grain’s husk or the tiny “little thing” attached to a bean—proof that medical language often began with the smallest objects imaginable.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
hīlum
“A trifle, a small thing; later also the scar or mark on a seed where it was attached”
Late Latin
Latin
hila
“Plural or extended technical use in botanical and anatomical contexts”
18th Century
English
hilum
“Adopted into scientific Latin and English anatomy as the point where vessels or nerves enter an organ”
Modern English
English
hilum
“The indentation or entry point on an organ such as a lung, kidney, or lymph node”