- #1
icakeov
- 379
- 27
Hello, is there a common name/word/terminology for any protective layers on an organism, for example, skin on humans, bark on a tree, etc?
Is there a common name for protective layer of an organism?
- Thread starter icakeov
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- Organism Skin Terminology
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the terminology used to describe protective layers of organisms, such as skin in humans and bark in trees. Participants explore various terms and concepts related to these protective structures across different species, including plants and animals.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant inquires about a common name for protective layers on organisms, citing examples like skin and bark.
- Another participant suggests that due to the diversity of structures, there is no single term, proposing "epidermis" as a possible guess.
- A participant elaborates on the complexity of naming these layers, mentioning terms like ectoderm, dermis, cuticle, and phelloderm, and discusses the implications of naming in biology.
- It is noted that various protective structures exist in both plants and animals, including fur, scales, and exoskeletons, which complicates the search for a common term.
- One participant agrees with the use of "epidermis" for humans and expands on the idea of organisms being layered structures, mentioning additional protective barriers like waxes and oils.
- A later reply expresses a desire for a simple term to describe the outermost layer, suggesting "outer layer" as a satisfactory option.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on a single term for protective layers, with multiple competing views and suggestions remaining throughout the discussion.
Contextual Notes
The discussion highlights the complexity and variability of protective layers across different organisms, indicating that terminology may depend on specific contexts and definitions.
- #2
jim mcnamara
Mentor
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Not really because of the multitude of higher plant and animal structures: ectoderm, dermis, epidermis, cuticle... and so on.
For the best possible guess - I vote for epidermis. This is just a not very useful wild guess.
PS: angiosperm bark is usually called phelloderm. Two names.
The correct answer is: no. You can make a case for some of them being "most common" in certain contexts, maybe. But in the early days of Biology, researchers categorized everything often uniquely. Read: they went overboard naming things. If something has a name then you think you have a handle on it. When you may have no clue. Example: math graduate students will identify a type of problem and then not be able to solve it. Somehow naming something implies knowledge... not really but we often feel that way. It is called the cubbyhole effect. See, it is self-referential, and it has a name, too! It is a disease. :) ...aaahhhh!
So the outermost layer of plants can be phelloderm, spines, cuticle, trichomes (kind of hair), epidermis, glochids... ad nauseum. Same with animals - fur, spines, scales, exoskeleton.
If you follow the development of tissues in the embryo of plants and animals you can see a common source, but in the full grown organism it is not always evident how a tissue is derived from other tissues.
This requires a lot of painstaking work.
Hair and fur are derived from follicles. Some invertebrates have an exoskeleton so the outer layer doubles as a skeletal structure - crabs, insects, bivalves are examples. Exoskeletons are quite varied.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoskeleton#Evolution.
For the best possible guess - I vote for epidermis. This is just a not very useful wild guess.
PS: angiosperm bark is usually called phelloderm. Two names.
The correct answer is: no. You can make a case for some of them being "most common" in certain contexts, maybe. But in the early days of Biology, researchers categorized everything often uniquely. Read: they went overboard naming things. If something has a name then you think you have a handle on it. When you may have no clue. Example: math graduate students will identify a type of problem and then not be able to solve it. Somehow naming something implies knowledge... not really but we often feel that way. It is called the cubbyhole effect. See, it is self-referential, and it has a name, too! It is a disease. :) ...aaahhhh!
So the outermost layer of plants can be phelloderm, spines, cuticle, trichomes (kind of hair), epidermis, glochids... ad nauseum. Same with animals - fur, spines, scales, exoskeleton.
If you follow the development of tissues in the embryo of plants and animals you can see a common source, but in the full grown organism it is not always evident how a tissue is derived from other tissues.
This requires a lot of painstaking work.
Hair and fur are derived from follicles. Some invertebrates have an exoskeleton so the outer layer doubles as a skeletal structure - crabs, insects, bivalves are examples. Exoskeletons are quite varied.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoskeleton#Evolution.
Last edited:
- #3
Fervent Freyja
Gold Member
- 676
- 786
Jim is correct with epidermis in humans. An organism can be considered a container within a container within a container, down to the subatomic level! There are many names for each level. There are waxes, bacteria, oils, etc. that also serve as protective barriers to the epidermis. Even water content in the surrounding atmosphere can be considered a protective 'layer' to the epidermis.
- #4
icakeov
- 379
- 27
Great! Thanks for all the responses. I was having a hard time finding the answer online... And It's so true, everything is wrapped into something else.
I thought, perhaps there would be a word that would describe the main, "final", "solid" layer that outlines an organism. I would be satisfied with "outer layer". :)
I thought, perhaps there would be a word that would describe the main, "final", "solid" layer that outlines an organism. I would be satisfied with "outer layer". :)
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