Cells may increase their SA:V (surface area:volume) ratio by having:
Long thin shape / elongated shape. e.g. nerve cells.
Folding the surface of the object/ cell membrane. e.g. villi of the lining in the small intestines.
Plant cells are much larger than animal cells and they have a large vacuole which pushes the organelles to the edge of the cell where they get regular access to resources.
Surface area refers to the outside area of an object, e.g. it is the area around the outside of a cell. Unit = = cm². Volume refers to the amount of space inside of the object, e.g. it is the space inside the cell. Unit = cm³.
As the cube size increases or the cell gets bigger, then the surface area to volume ratio - SA:V ratio decreases.
When an object/cell is very small, it has a large surface area to volume ratio, while a large object/cell has a small surface area to volume ratio.
When a cell grows, its volume increases at a greater rate than its surface area, therefore it’s SA:V ratio decreases.
Increasing the size of the cell has a much greater effect on the cells volume than it does on its surface area. If a cell is too large, nutrients simply aren’t able to diffuse through the entire volume of the cell quickly enough.
Materials must be able to reach all parts of a cell quickly, and when volume is too large relative to surface area, diffusion cannot occur at sufficiently high rates to ensure this.
Smaller cells have a much greater surface area to volume ratio allowing material to diffuse throughout the entire volume of the cell quickly and efficiently. See more at Pathwayz.org.