  Context. We present a reanalysis of the distribution of galaxies in the
$\log(\langle I\rangle_e)-\log(R_e)$ plane under a new theoretical perspective.
Aims. Using the data of the WINGS database and those of the Illustris
simulation we will demonstrate that the origin of the observed distribution in
this parameter space can be understood only by accepting a new interpretation
of the $\log(L)$-$\log(\sigma)$ relation Methods. We simulate the distribution
of galaxies in the $\log(\langle I\rangle_e)-\log(R_e)$ plane starting from the
new $L=L_0'\sigma^\beta$ relation proposed by D'Onofrio et al. (2020) and we
discuss the physical mechanisms that are hidden in this empirical law. Results.
The artificial distribution obtained assuming that beta spans either positive
and negative values and that $L'_0$ changes with $\beta$, is perfectly
superposed to the observational data, once it is postulated that the Zone of
Exclusion (ZoE) is the limit of virialized and quenched objects. Conclusions.
We have demonstrated that the distribution of galaxies in the $\log(\langle
I\rangle_e)-\log(R_e)$ plane is not linked to the peculiar light profiles of
the galaxies of different luminosity, but originate from the mass assembly
history of galaxies, made of merging, star formation events, star evolution and
quenching of the stellar population.
