Cortex

The phrase Cortex is of Latin origin, which means ring, husk, bark, or shell.

It means that the cortex is the superficial or outer section of an organ or bodily structure. 

This same phrase holds one-of-a-kind meanings in the extraordinary fields of biology as well. One is the Anatomical definition and the other one is for the Botanical representation.

Anatomy: The cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum which is pretty composed of folded count in grey colour and taking part in a necessary role in consciousness.

Botany: The cortex is an outer layer of tissue immediately beneath the dermis of a stem or root.

Meaning of Cortex  

There are different cortex under the category of Anatomy and Botanical cortex consist of two types of cortex, below there is an introduction, meaning, and function of every particular cortex found in biology:-

Renal cortex:- This type of cortex is found between the renal medulla and the renal capsule. Its function is to assist in the ultrafiltration process.

Adrenal cortex:- They are located along the perimeter of the adrenal gland, and they serve in mediating the stress response through the production of various hormones in the body.

Thymic cortex:- The following cortex is composed of lymphocytes and they function as a site for the somatic recombination of t cells receptors and positive selection.

Cerebral cortex:- It is the outer layer of the cerebrum and it plays an important role in consciousness.

Cortical bone:- Even though it does not sound like a cortex it works as one, and it is the hard outer layer of the cerebrum that plays a key role in memory, attention, thought, language, and many other things.

Ovarian cortex:- As the name suggests, this cortex is the outer layer of the ovary and the function of such cortex is to contain the follicles.

Lymph node cortex:- This kind of cortex is the outer layer of the lymph node.

Root cortex:- This type of cortex appears in the plant root below the epidermis.

Stem cortex:- The stem cortex is found on the stem layer below the epidermis and it mostly occurs in the non-fruiting parts of the plant.

Structure of Cortex     

There are two types of Cortex, one is the cerebral cortex which is found in zoology and the other one is the root cortex, in botany. Below you will find a quick know-how about their buildings and how they are formed:-

Cerebral Cortex

This cortex is composed of four lobes, which are: 

• frontal lobe
• parietal lobe
• temporal lobe and 
• occipital lobe respectively. 

This cortex is made up of 6 layers of neocortex and 3 to 4 layers of allocortex.  

The different 6 layers of the neocortex are the following:-

• Molecular layer
• External granular layer
• External pyramidal layer
• Internal granular layer
• Internal pyramidal layer
• Polymorphic layer, also known as the Multiform layer.

The distinctive subtypes of Allocortex are the following:-

• Paleocortex
• Archicortex
• Periallocortex

Root Cortex

It is composed of thin-walled isodiametric parenchyma cells with many intercellular spaces. Collenchyma is absent in the root cortex but sometimes fibres, sclereids, idioblasts, latex cells, tannin cells, and mucilage cells may occur. 

The cortical cells are usually devoid of chloroplast but they store starch. 

However, in the roots of some aquatics and aerial roots, few outer layers of cortex contain chloroplasts. 

The cells of the cortex are usually arranged irregularly but sometimes they are arranged in distinct radial rows or in concentric layers.

In aquatic plants, large air cavities are formed due to the disintegration of some of the cortical cells.

In most dicotyledons, the cortex is replaced by suberized cells as a result of secondary growth.

In many monocotyledons and some dicotyledons and gymnosperms, 1 to several epidermal layers of cortex differentiates into a protective tissue called exodermis.

Conclusion    

The phrase Cortex is of Latin origin, which means ring, husk, bark, or shell. It means that the cortex is the superficial or outer section of an organ or bodily structure. 

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum and it plays an important role in consciousness. The root cortex appears in the plant root below the epidermis.

There are mainly two types of Cortex,  one is the cerebral cortex which is found in zoology and the other one is the root cortex which is found in botany they occur in the animal body and the plant body respectively. 

The cerebral cortex is composed of four lobes namely, the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe respectively. This cortex is mainly involved in the consciousness of the body and it is made up of 6 layers of neocortex and 3 to 4 layers of allocortex. 

The root cortex is composed of thin-walled isodiametric parenchyma cells with many intercellular spaces. Collenchyma is usually absent in the root cortex but sometimes fibres, sclereids, idioblasts, latex cells, tannin cells, and mucilage cells may occur.