Which feature increases the surface area to volume ratio of a cell?

Which feature increases the surface area to volume ratio of a cell?

• A. Frilly edges
• B. Very smooth, spherical shape
• C. Very large overall size
• D. Cubical, blocky shape

Answer: (A)

Increasing the surface area relative to volume is achieved by adding more membrane surface without a large increase in internal space. Frilly edges do exactly that: they create folds and protrusions that boost the amount of membrane available for diffusion, uptake, and waste removal without making the cell’s interior grow much. A smooth spherical shape minimizes surface area for a given volume, which lowers SA:V; a very large overall size increases volume faster than surface area, also lowering SA:V; and a cubical, blocky shape doesn’t add as much membrane surface as irregular, frilly features. Overall, frilly edges maximize the surface area available for exchange relative to the cell’s volume.

Increasing the surface area relative to volume is achieved by adding more membrane surface without a large increase in internal space. Frilly edges do exactly that: they create folds and protrusions that boost the amount of membrane available for diffusion, uptake, and waste removal without making the cell’s interior grow much. A smooth spherical shape minimizes surface area for a given volume, which lowers SA:V; a very large overall size increases volume faster than surface area, also lowering SA:V; and a cubical, blocky shape doesn’t add as much membrane surface as irregular, frilly features. Overall, frilly edges maximize the surface area available for exchange relative to the cell’s volume.