Definitions for: Hippocampus


[n] seahorses
[n] a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of gray matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories



Webster (1913) Definition: Hip`po*cam"pus, n. [L., the sea horse, Gr. ? a
hippocampus (in senses 1 and 2); "i`ppos horse + ? to bend.]
1. (Class. Myth.) A fabulous monster, with the head and fore
quarters of a horse joined to the tail of a dolphin or
other fish (Hippocampus brevirostris), -- seen in
Pompeian paintings, attached to the chariot of Neptune.
--Fairholt.



2. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of lophobranch fishes of several
species in which the head and neck have some resemblance
to those of a horse; -- called also sea horse.

Note: They swim slowly, in an erect position, and often cling
to seaweeds by means of the incurved prehensile tail.
The male has a ventral pouch, in which it carries the
eggs till hatched.

3. (Zo["o]l.) A name applied to either of two ridges of white
matter in each lateral ventricle of the brain. The larger
is called hippocampus major or simply hippocampus. The
smaller, hippocampus minor, is called also ergot and
calcar.

Synonyms: genus Hippocampus

See Also: family Syngnathidae, fish genus, limbic brain, limbic system, neural structure, sea horse, seahorse, Syngnathidae, visceral brain

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