Limits to cell size

Surface area to volume ratios

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 Why are cells small?

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 Cells are typically small because of the
ratio of surface area to volume
SA:V =
6S2/S3
where S=length of one side

We use cubes for simplicity of the

math. In real life cells are more
like spheres, but the concept
remains the same.

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 ● Surface area dictates
amount of exchange
across the cell
membrane.

● The more surface area,

the more exchange of MOLECULES INTO CELL…
nutrients and gases into Glucose
Oxygen gas
the cell and wastes out
of the cell through the MOLECULES OUT OF CELL…
cell membrane. Carbon dioxide gas
Urea (waste from metabolism)

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 Volume dictates the amount of materials that
are needed or produced in the cytoplasm

• The more volume, the more

nutrients and gases that are
needed inside the cell for metabolic
reactions.

• The more volume, the more waste

that is produced that must leave
the cell.

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 As a cell becomes too large…
...the surface area to volume ratio becomes too
small A small cell
has more
surface area
relative to the A large cell
This means that the rate of volume has less
surface area
transport across the surface relative to the
volume
area (either nutrients in or
waste out) is too slow for the
metabolic demands of the
volume and the cell will not be
able to function properly.
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 Some cells increase surface area
to volume ratio by having:

Long cellular extensions that Extensions of the cell membrane

increase surface area without
large increase in volume (e.g.
nerve cells)
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Thin, flat cell shapes that increase that increase surface area without
surface area without large large increase in volume (e.g.
increase in volume (e.g. red blood microvilli on small intestine cells)
cells)
 Need more clarification?
Watch this video

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