7.5

Question 1

why is the surface area to volume ratio important?

Answer 1

The surface area to volume ration of a cell determines how fast the cell is able to move matter and energy. If cells have too much volume and not enough surface area the functions slow because the plasma membrane will not have enough surface area to tend to every part of the cell quickly

Question 2

flattening for increased surface area

Answer 2

example: Fish gills have thin sheets of epithelial cells called lamellae. These allow for more surface area and in turn diffusion is able to happen much quicker

Question 3

folding for increased surface area

Answer 3

Example: In parts of the digestive tract the surface is folded into projections called villi. They help expand the surface area so that nutrients can be diffused into the body quicker

Question 4

branching for increased surface area

Answer 4

Example: capillaries are a branched network of blood vessels. The branching system allows a higher surface area which allows gases, waste and nutrients to pass in and out of the blood as quickly as our bodies require