View source for Whorl

{{Short description|Geometric pattern}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:Whorls.png|thumb|180px|Main whorled patterns.]]
A '''whorl''' ({{IPAc-en|w|ɜːr|l}} or {{IPAc-en|w|ɔːr|l}}) is an individual [[circle]], [[oval]], volution or equivalent in a '''whorled pattern''', which consists of a [[spiral]] or multiple [[concentric objects]] (including [[circle]]s, [[oval]]s and [[Arc (geometry)|arcs]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/whorl|title=whorl|website=Dictionary.com|accessdate=2022-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Jawarneh, Ibrahim & Alsharman, Nesreen|year=2021|title=The Mathematical Model and Deep Learning Features Selection for Whorl Fingerprint Classifications|journal=International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems|volume=14 |page=1208 |doi=10.2991/ijcis.d.210318.002|s2cid=233022744 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350537695|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==In nature==
{{For-text|further examples|[[Spiral]] and [[Concentric objects]]}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=130>
File:Photograph and axial plane floral diagram of Friesodielsia desmoides.jpg|'''[[Whorl (botany)|Botanical whorls]]''': sepals, petals, leaves, or branches radiating from a single point (photo of flower of [[Friesodielsia|Friesodielsia desmoides]], family [[Annonaceae]], juxtaposed with diagram of axial cross-section) 
File:Anisus septegyrus1pl.jpg|'''[[Whorl (mollusc)|Mollusc whorls]]''': Each complete 360° turn in the spiral growth of the shell of the mollusc [[Anisus septemgyratus]], family [[Planorbidae]].
File:Baby hairy head DSCN2483.jpg|A '''[[hair whorl]]''' is a patch of [[hair]] growing in a circular direction around a visible center point.
File:Fingerprint Whorl.jpg|In a [[fingerprint]], a whorl is each ridge arranged circularly around a central point on the finger.
File:Bovine Bone Sample and 430 times Magnification.jpg|In [[histopathologic architecture]], a whorled pattern consists of multiple [[concentric objects]], or a spiral-shaped pattern. [[Bone]] tissue is shown.
</gallery>
For [[mollusc whorls]], the [[body whorl]] in a mollusc shell is the most recently formed whorl of a spiral shell, terminating in the aperture.

==Artificial objects==
<gallery mode=packed heights=130>>
File:Spindle Whorl (Sulsultin), 19th century, 05.588.7382.jpg|A '''[[spindle whorl]]''' is a disc or spherical object fitted onto the [[spindle (textiles)|spindle]] to increase and maintain the speed of the spin.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Whirl (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}

[[Category:Patterns]]
[[Category:Geometric shapes]]


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