Objective      To provide linear measurement indices for hippocampal morphological change-related diseases.       Methods      The head magnetic resonance images of 51 healthy adults in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were analyzed. The volume

height

width and length of the hippocampus were measured

and the correlation of hippocampal volume with the height

width and length of the hippocampus were statistically analyzed after standardization.       Results      The standardized volume and length of hippocampal head

body and tail

standardized hippocampal volume

standardized length of hippocampal longitudinal axis

standardized hippocampal width and standardized temporal horn width were significantly greater in the females than in the males (P0.05

P0.01)

but the interuncal distance and the temporal horn width were significantly greater in the males than in the females (P0.05

P0.01). The standardized length of hippocampus head and tail were greater at the right side than at the left side (P0.05)

while the standardized length of hippocampal body and hippocampal longitudinal axis were greater at the left side than at the right side (P0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the liner indices which were the most closely correlated with hippocampal volume after standardization were the width of hippocampus

the length of hippocampal longitudinal axis

the width of temporal horn and the volume of hippocampal tail.       Conclusion      There are significant distinctions of hippocampal morphology in sex and side

which should be noted in clinical practice. The width of the hippocampus and the length of hippocampal longitudinal axis can be used as preliminary screening indices for morphological changes of hippocampus.