cortexs

Cortexs is not a standard plural in English. In formal biology and anatomy, the term cortex is used with two common plural forms: cortices and cortexes. The form cortexs is generally considered incorrect or nonstandard, though it may appear in non-specialist texts or as a brand name. The preferred plural often depends on context: cortices is common for anatomical regions derived from Latin cortex, while cortexes appears in some general writing.

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain's cerebrum and is composed of gray matter folded into gyri and sulci. It participates in processing sensory information, initiating motor commands, and supporting higher cognitive functions such as language, planning, and consciousness. The cortex is traditionally divided into functional lobes—frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital—with a layered structure comprising six histological layers in the neocortex and specialized cell types in other cortical areas.

Other cortical contexts include the adrenal cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland that synthesizes steroid hormones) and the renal cortex (the outer portion of the kidney containing glomeruli and parts of the nephron). In plants, the cortex is the tissue between the epidermis and the vascular cylinder in stems and roots, often serving storage and transport roles and sometimes containing chloroplasts. In neuroscience, cortex can also refer to cortical regions outside the neocortex, such as allocortical areas in the limbic system.

Because cortex is used across biology to describe outer layers of diverse organs, the plural cortexs is rarely used and can be misleading; writers usually prefer cortices or cortexes depending on context. Users should check style guides or the specific scientific field for the preferred form.