Icosahedral
Icosahedral
Icosahedral (pronunciation: /aɪˌkoʊsəˈhiːdrəl/) is a term used in geometry and virology to describe a polyhedron with 20 faces. The term is derived from the Greek words 'eikosi' meaning 'twenty' and 'hedra' meaning 'seat' or 'face'.
Geometry
In geometry, an icosahedron is a polyhedron with 20 faces. The faces are usually equilateral triangles. There are two types of icosahedra: regular and irregular. A regular icosahedron is one of the five Platonic solids and has 20 equilateral triangles, 12 vertices, and 30 edges. An irregular icosahedron does not have equilateral triangles.
Virology
In virology, icosahedral refers to the shape of the capsid (outer shell) of many types of viruses. This shape is one of the most common and efficient ways to form a protective shell around the virus's genetic material. The icosahedral shape allows for a large volume-to-surface-area ratio, which is beneficial for the virus.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Icosahedral
- Wikipedia's article - Icosahedral
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