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jeffreyaxtell4039
jeffreyaxtell4039
21.02.2020 • 
Biology

In our body, the surface of some cells is covered with tiny membraneous projections called microvilli. (See the figure at the right.) Consider a typical cell in a body to be of 10 µm radius. A microvillus is typically 1 µm in length and 100 nm (or 0.1 µm) in radius. Assume that there are about 20 microvilli per square micron on the cells surface (and they take up 80% of the cells surface).

(A) Estimate how much the surface area of the cell increases due to the presence of the microvilli (as compared to a similar cell with no microvilli).
% (give your answer as a percentage increase)

(B) Estimate next how much the volume increases due to the presence of the microvilli.

% (give your answer as a percentage increase)

(C) Based on your answer can you say whether having microvilli is an efficient way for the cell to increase its nutrient absorption?
In our body, the surface of some cells is covered

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