vallecula n : (anatomy) any furrow or channel on a bodily structure or part [syn: groove] [also: valleculae (pl)]

English

Etymology

New , from valles (valley), 1859.

Noun

1. A depression or groove in the anatomy.

Derived terms

• vallecular

References

• Vallecula, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 2004. WB Saunders, an Elsevier imprint.

Vallecula is an anatomic term for a crevice, depression, or furrow in something.

Types

There are a variety of valleculae in the human body, including one between the hemispheres of the brain, on the inferior surface of the cerebellum, in which the medulla oblongata is located (vallecula of cerebellum). Other common valleculae are: in the nail matrix, and in the throat.

Used alone, the term "vallecula" usually applies to the epiglottic vallecula.

Etymology

"Vallecula" comes from the Latin word "valles", meaning "valley", and is in the diminutive form of the word, so a vallecula is literally a "little valley".

References