FORNIX (fornices)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: fornices   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fornix mean? 

• FORNIX (noun)
  The noun FORNIX has 2 senses:

1. generally any arch shaped structure (but often it refers to the arched roof of an anatomical space)

2. an arched bundle of white fibers at the base of the brain by which the hippocampus of each hemisphere projects to the contralateral hippocampus and to the thalamus and mamillary bodies

  Familiarity information: FORNIX used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORNIX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Generally any arch shaped structure (but often it refers to the arched roof of an anatomical space)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("fornix" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An arched bundle of white fibers at the base of the brain by which the hippocampus of each hemisphere projects to the contralateral hippocampus and to the thalamus and mamillary bodies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

fornix; trigonum cerebrale

Hypernyms ("fornix" is a kind of...):

fascicle; fasciculus; fiber bundle; fibre bundle (a bundle of fibers (especially nerve fibers))

Meronyms (parts of "fornix"):

carina fornicis (ridge on the lower surface of the fornix of the brain)

Holonyms ("fornix" is a part of...):

limbic brain; limbic system; visceral brain (a system of functionally related neural structures in the brain that are involved in emotional behavior)

 Context examples 

Following ocular application, natamycin is retained in the conjunctival fornices and attains effective concentrations within the corneal stroma where it exerts its effect.

(Natamycin, NCI Thesaurus)