The shape correction function is a ratio of the surface area of a growing organism and that of an isomorph

Isomorph

An isomorph is an organism that does not change in shape during growth. The implication is that its volume is proportional to its cubed length, and its surface area to its squared length...

 as function of the volume. The shape of the isomorph is taken to be equal to that of the organism for a given reference volume, so for that particular volume the surface areas are also equal and the shape correction function has value one.

For volume , reference volume , the shape correction function equals for

• V0-morph
  V0-morph
  An V0-morph is an organism that changes in shape during growth such that its surface area is proportional to its volume to the power 0, so its surface area is constant....
  
  s:
• V1-morph
  V1-morph
  An V1-morph is an organism that changes in shape during growth such that its surface area is proportional to its volume to the power 1, so to its volume...
  
  s:
• isomorph
  Isomorph
  An isomorph is an organism that does not change in shape during growth. The implication is that its volume is proportional to its cubed length, and its surface area to its squared length...
  
  s:
• static mixtures between a V0- and a V1-morph: for

The shape correction function is used in the Dynamic Energy Budget

Dynamic energy budget

The Dynamic Energy Budget theory aims to identify simple quantitative rules for the organization of metabolism of individual organisms that can be understood from basic first principles...

theory to convert the equations for isomorphs to that for organisms that change in shape during growth. The conversion is necessary for food (substrate) acquisition and mobilization of reserve for use by metabolism.