HIPPOCAMPUS Meaning and
Definition
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The hippocampus is a region of the brain that is primarily involved in the formation, consolidation, and retrieval of memories. It is located deep within the temporal lobe and is considered an essential component of the brain's limbic system. The term "hippocampus" is derived from the Greek words "hippos" meaning "horse" and "kampos" meaning "sea monster," reflecting its resemblance to a seahorse.
Anatomically, the hippocampus consists of two curved structures, referred to as the hippocampal formations, one in each hemisphere of the brain. These formations are composed of several subregions, including the dentate gyrus, the hippocampal CA1-CA3 fields (cornu ammonis), and the subiculum. Collectively, these subregions work in concert to facilitate the processing and storage of memories.
Functionally, the hippocampus plays a vital role in episodic memory, which is memory associated with specific events or experiences. It is responsible for converting short-term memories into long-term memories, a process known as memory consolidation. Additionally, the hippocampus is involved in spatial navigation and the creation of cognitive maps, allowing individuals to remember and navigate through different environments.
Damage or dysfunction to the hippocampus can lead to various memory disorders, such as amnesia, where the affected individual may have difficulty forming new memories or remembering past events. Studying the hippocampus has contributed significantly to our understanding of memory formation and the underlying mechanisms of learning and cognition.
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Hippocampus major, cornu Ammonis, an elevation on the floor of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the brain; it presents a long curve with convexity outward, terminating anteriorly in a thickened extremity, slightly notched on its surface-pes or digitationes hippocampi; the elevation corresponds to the bottom of the dentate fissure (fissura hippocampi).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A small fish of singular shape with head and neck like a horse; the sea-horse; a fabulous monster, having the head and fore quarters of a horse attached to the tail of a fish.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for HIPPOCAMPUS
Etymology of HIPPOCAMPUS
The word "hippocampus" is derived from the Greek words "hippos" meaning "horse" and "kampos" meaning "sea monster". In Greek mythology, the hippocampus was described as a creature with the upper body of a horse and the lower body of a fish or sea serpent. The name was given to a part of the brain due to its resemblance to the shape of a seahorse.
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