(anatomy) a depression or fissure where vessels or nerves or ducts enter a bodily organ

• Seed scar
• Area where blood vessels enter an organ
• Organ opening

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
In botany, a hilum (pronounced ) is a scar or mark left on a seed coat by the former attachment to the ovary wall or to the funiculus (which in turn attaches to the ovary wall). On a bean seed, the hilum is called the "eye". For some species of fungus , ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. (anatomy) a depression or fissure where vessels or nerves or ducts enter a bodily organ; "the hilus of the kidney" [syn: hilus ] the scar on certain seeds marking its point of attachment to the funicle [also: hila (pl)]

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context botany English) 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. 2 (context botany English) The nucleus of a starch grain. 3 (context anatomy English) A depression or ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Latin, literally "little thing, shred, trifle." Related: Hilar .

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hilum \Hi"lum\, n. [L., a little thing, trifle.] (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 . (Anat.) The part of a gland, or similar organ, where the ...