What is the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle called?

The solid part of the Earth that includes the crust and the outer mantle is referred to as the lithosphere. This term derives from the Greek words "lithos," meaning stone, and "sphaira," meaning sphere, which together describe the rigid outer layer of the Earth. The lithosphere is characterized by its solid, rocky composition, providing the foundational structure upon which continents and ocean basins reside.

The lithosphere includes both landforms such as mountains and plains, as well as the uppermost portion of the mantle, which interacts with tectonic plates and geological processes. Understanding the lithosphere is crucial in the study of geology, as it plays a pivotal role in phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and plate tectonics, which shape the Earth's surface over time.

The other options refer to different Earth systems: the biosphere encompasses all living organisms, the hydrosphere includes all water bodies, and the atmosphere consists of the layers of gases surrounding the Earth. Each of these spheres represents a different aspect of the Earth’s environment, but when specifically discussing the solid components, the lithosphere is the appropriate term.