Lithosphere

Imagine trying to open a stubborn jar lid that just won't budge. Much like that jar lid, the lithosphere is the Earth's rigid outer layer, composed of the crust and upper mantle, resisting change and movement. Just as the jar lid forms a protective barrier for the contents inside, the lithosphere acts as a protective shell for the molten layers beneath, with the crust being the lid's top surface and the upper mantle acting as the twisting threads that hold everything firmly in place.
Practice Version

Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of Earth made up of the crust and upper mantle. Lithosphere. The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth that includes the crust and the uppermost mantle.