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What can large cells do that will increase their total surface area to volume ratio?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
By adding elongated extensions to the cell the surface area to volume ratio will be increased. One good example of a type of cell that can get very large but still have adequate oxygen diffusion rates is a neuron, some of which can have meters long axons in some animals.
Flatten it. The shape should be as far from spherical, and the cross section as far from circular as possible.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThey can't really. That's the problem and that is why cells are so small. As they increase in size, their surface area to volume ratio gets smaller, so they do not have enough surface area to support their volume. Now, if we picture something like a small intestine that has lots of projections or something like the mitochondria where there are lots and lots of folds to increase surface area then I suppose cells could do this as well to increase surface area. However it has always been explained to me that cells divide when then surface area gets to be too big (and also to make new cells for growth and repair).
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe important point is that the surface area to the volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger.
Thus, if the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be able to cross the membrane
fast enough to accommodate the increased cellular volume.
When this happens, the cell must divide into smaller cells with favorable surface area/volume ratios, or cease to function.
That is why cells are so small.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoEither increase the # of SA or Decreasing the V.
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How does the growth of an organism occur?
Growth of an organism is characterized by an increase in the size of its body. This occurs due to accumulation of food substances in the cells which in turn increases the volume of the protoplasm in the cells. This increase in volume of cells results in growth. However, its necessary to understand the fact that cells do not increase in their volume indefinitely. After a considerable period of time they divide into two through processes such as mitosis. These divided cells again increase in volume and redivide after they become large. Bassicaly, the organism eats and gets nutrients from what it eats which causes it to grow.
The size of cells is limited by their?
Cells are limited in size by the rate at which substances needed by the cell can enter the cell through its surface. volume increases faster than surface area and homeostasis is disrupted by a cell that is too large
Why It is advantageous for cells to be small?
It is advantageous for cells to be small because they are able to get more nourishment. Their size makes them more efficient at diffusion.
Why would a group of small cells help an organism maintain homeostasis better than one large cell?
The group of small cells would have a greater surface area-to-volume ratio, so are able to exchange materials with their surroundings more efficiently.
Why are most cells small?
The surface area to volume ratio of a cell is important in order to pass materials the cell needs to survive across its surface. There is therefore an optimal size for a cell where it is large enough to hold all its internal structures and yet small enough for cross membrane transport. Any bigger than this and the cell will not be able to get enough nutrients into itself to live and function properly. Thus most cells are of this size (there are specific exceptions). ======================= There is a reason why cells are so small. Cells take in food and get rid of wastes through their outer surface. They need to have a large ratio of surface area to volume. Cells also don't have enough organelles to get the food through out the whole cell. ======================= They need to have a large ratio of surface area to volume ======================= Cells are small because they take in food and remove wastes through it's membrane(skin), so if it's surface area cannot take in enough food for it's volume, the cell can starve/poisen itself, which is why cells cannot be very big. (as an object gets bigger, so does it's volume and surface area. However, volume grows much faster, and if the object gets too big, the volume will exceed the surface area) ======================== The reason why cells must be so small is because cells need enough surface area to export and import all that they need. If they were too big they would not be able to carry out all the things that they do. ======================== Cells need to be small in order to have good surface area to volume ratios. It is important that the surface area be larger than the volume so that the things that need to get in and out of the cell can do so. Otherwise the cell could be poisoned by accumulation of waste or not being able to take in what it needs.
Are blue whale cells bigger than human cells?
No, they are not. The surface areas of cell must increase exponentially in order to compensate for the large increase in cell volume, so to solve this problem multicellular organisms simply have more cells as opposed to larger cells.
Why are groups of a small cells better than one large cell at moving material in and out?
they have a greater surface-to-volume ratio
Which has the greater surface area one large cell or 27 smaller cells?
If the smaller cells' total volume is at least that of the larger cell then the smaller cells have the greater surface area.
Why are small cells better then large cells for moving materials through membranes?
small cells have a greater surface-to-volume ratio than larger cells.
What is the relationship between a cells surfaces area and it's volume?
The relationship is usually expressed as a ratio: surface area divided by volume. Small cells have a large surface area to volume ratio, whilst large cells have a much smaller value. This is important because the cell absorbs the things it needs, and gets rid of what it doesn't need, through the surface. If the cell gets too large, not enough exchange can take place to keep the cell going, so there is a natural limit on the size to which a cell can grow.
Cells are limited in size by their surface Ares and what else?
Cell size is limited by volume.Surface area to volume ratio (surface area / volume)Nucleo-cytoplasmic ratioFragility of cell membraneMechanical structures necessary to hold the cell together (and the contents of the cell in place)
Why can small cells exchange subtances more readily than large cells?
Small cells have higher surface area to volume ratio than larger cells.
Explain why most cells are small?
It has to do with the surface area to volume ratio. The cell interacts with its environment at the cell surface. If a cells volume is too large the surface area isn't sufficient to exchange the necessary oxygen/nutrients/wastes to maintain the functions of a cell.
What is the relationship between a cells surface area and volume?
The relationship is usually expressed as a ratio: surface area divided by volume. Small cells have a large surface area to volume ratio, whilst large cells have a much smaller value. This is important because the cell absorbs the things it needs, and gets rid of what it doesn't need, through the surface. If the cell gets too large, not enough exchange can take place to keep the cell going, so there is a natural limit on the size to which a cell can grow.
How does the growth of an organism occur?
Growth of an organism is characterized by an increase in the size of its body. This occurs due to accumulation of food substances in the cells which in turn increases the volume of the protoplasm in the cells. This increase in volume of cells results in growth. However, its necessary to understand the fact that cells do not increase in their volume indefinitely. After a considerable period of time they divide into two through processes such as mitosis. These divided cells again increase in volume and redivide after they become large. Bassicaly, the organism eats and gets nutrients from what it eats which causes it to grow.
What is the explanation for the fact that most cells are small and have cell membranes with many convolutions?
Small cells are better able to transport material more efficiently. Many convolutions increase the surface area of the cell, thus allowing for more interactions between the cell and its environment. A large cell has greater volume to its surface area and if this is too large, it will not get enough protein and oxygen.
What is the importance of large surface cells?
To occupy a large surface.
