On the basis of new data on diatom frustule functions, found in the field of nanotechnology, the conclusion was made about a multifunctional role of most frustule structural elements and their taking part in many vital functions of the diatom single-cell organism. The proposal on revision of the morphological terms for the diatom frustule description is put on the modern universal base. The concept on a possible approach to diatom functional morphology and the definitions of the diatom frustule basic element (= db-element) and morph of the diatom frustule (= df-morph) for description of fine morphology are suggested. Some structures of frustule as velum, areola, stria are considered in the light of function morphology.

Keywords: Bacillariophyta, diatom frustule, frustule functions, functional morphology, morphological terms, nanotechnology, db-element, df-morph, virga, vimin, velum, areola, stria

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