vəˈlekyələ, vaˈl- noun
( plural vallecu·lae -yəˌlē, -lī)
Etymology: New Latin, from Late Latin, little valley, depression, diminutive of valles valley — more at vale
: an anatomical groove, channel, or depression: as
a.
(1) : a groove on the stem of a plant of the genus Equisetum
(2) : a groove on the fruit of a various plant of the family Ammiaceae
b. : a groove between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis
c. : a fossa on the underside of the cerebellum separating the hemispheres and including the inferior vermis