hippocampus

[ hip-uh-kam-puhs ]

noun

, plural hip·po·cam·pi [hip-, uh, -, kam, -pahy, -pee].

1. Classical Mythology. a fish-tailed horse of the sea that was ridden by the sea gods.
2. Anatomy. an enfolding of cerebral cortex into the lateral fissure of a cerebral hemisphere, having a major role in learning, emotion, and memory, and named for the seahorse shape of its cross section.

hippocampus

/ ˌhɪpəʊˈkæmpəs /

noun

1. a mythological sea creature with the forelegs of a horse and the tail of a fish
2. any marine teleost fish of the genus Hippocampus, having a horselike head See sea horse
3. 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

hippocampus

/ hĭp′ə-kăm′pəs /

, Plural hippocampi hĭp′ə-kăm′pī′

1. 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.

Derived Forms

• ˌhippoˈcampal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippocampus¹

First recorded in 1575–80; from Latin hippocampus, hippocampos, from Greek hippókampos, equivalent to hippo- hippo- + kámpos “sea monster”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippocampus¹

C16: from Latin, from Greek hippos horse + kampos a sea monster

Example Sentences

This study tracked cells in the hippocampus, a curved structure near the center of the brain in both species that’s vital for learning and memory.

From Quanta Magazine

Hassabis, for example, was studying the hippocampus, which processes memory, when he and Legg met.

From MIT Technology Review

In previous “replay” algorithms, these data are then transferred to the hippocampus, which stores the memory and uses it for playback.

From Singularity Hub 

Previous studies have found that by snipping off the ventral connections from the hippocampus to different brain areas, it’s possible to reduce the impact of memories that normally trigger anxiety.

From Singularity Hub 

You see, the hippocampus is special in that it’s one of two brain regions that gives birth to new neurons throughout most of life, although the rate declines with age.

From Singularity Hub 

Cortisol is bad for your brain, particularly the hippocampus, which encodes memories.

From The Daily Beast

In depressed people, for instance, the hippocampus tends to be smaller than in healthy people.

From The Daily Beast

Until now, most research on the brain changes caused by stress has focused on the hippocampus, which processes memories.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually it ends in the substance of the hippocampus and in the uncus of the temporal lobe.

From Project Gutenberg

The hippocampus, which is otherwise known as the “sea-horse,” affords another interesting example of aquatic locomotion.

From Project Gutenberg

The little seahorse (Syngnathus hippocampus) is commonly found here.

From Project Gutenberg

The first on the right has two figures of Nereids traversing the sea, one on a sea-bull the other on a hippocampus.

From Project Gutenberg

These little cuirassed fishes consist of two genera, Syngnathus and Hippocampus.

From Project Gutenberg