The surface area-to-volume ratio of a cell
A) can be increased by increasing the volume of the cell.
B) can be decreased by decreasing the surface area.
C) explains why cells are small.
D) is of little significance to maintaining cell homeostasis.
E) None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The surface area-to-volume ratio of a cell explains why cells are small. As the size of a cell increases, its volume increases faster than its surface area. Therefore, a smaller cell has a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows for efficient exchange of nutrients and waste with the environment. If a cell becomes too large, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases, and it would not be able to efficiently exchange materials with its environment, leading to impaired cellular function.

The Surface Area-To-Volume Ratio of a Cell