Surface area to volume ratio

Cards (4)

  • Relationship between organisms size and their surface area
    The larger the organism the lower the surface area to volume ratio will be
  • How does the surface area to volume ratio affect the transport of molecules
    The lower the surface area:volume the further the distance molecules need to travel
    Once distance becomes too great diffusion alone is not sufficient to transport molecules
  • Why do larger organisms require specialised exchange surfaces
    Exchange surfaces provide larger extra surface area adapted for exchanging substances.
    This makes up for the small surface area:volume
  • Why do larger organisms require mass transport systems
    Diffusion alone is not sufficient to quickly transport substances long distances