The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of hyaluronan, the naturally occurring anionic form of hyaluronic acid, any member of a group of glycosaminoglycans, the repeat units of which consist of beta-1,4 linked D-glucuronyl-beta-(1,3)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. [ http://openisbn.com/search.php?q=0198506732&isbn=1/ GOC:mah ]