Hilum of the heart.

Background: Organs with the juxtaposed entry or exit of their communications have the sites which should be termed hila. Despite juxtaposed communications of the heart, the name hilum cordis is absent in the Nomina Anatomica.

Results: This paper describes the hilum of the heart as the site bounded by the serous pericardium above heart base, ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk.

Conclusion: Because the hilum of the heart is an equivalent to the hila of the other organs enveloped by the splanchnic mesoderm and thus far the term hilum cordis is absent in the Nomina Anatomica, the authors suggest to recognize a novel anatomical term-hilum cordis.