Complex sentence: In that context, sometimes the term "lithosphere" is used instead of geosphere, however the lithosphere only refers to the uppermost layers of the solid Earth (oceanic and continental crustal rocks and uppermost mantle).
Split into simpler sentences: In that context, sometimes the term "lithosphere" is used instead of geosphere. However, the lithosphere only refers to the uppermost layers of the solid Earth (oceanic and continental crustal rocks and uppermost mantle).