Why are cells often flattened instead of cube-shaped?

Question

anonymous · Answer

It depends greatly on what type of cell and where that cell is located.

anonymous · Answer

Cells grown outside of a living organism are flat because of gravity. They don't have anything to cling on to.

anonymous · Answer

Cells in organisms can be different shapes. The more "cube"-y shape would be a cell with a cell wall, whereas a cell such as an animal cell would be more round. It wouldn't be flat because of its ability to "scaffold" with other cells and parts of the body.

directrix · Answer

Define the importance of cell shape http://cytochemistry.net/medical-school-study-guides/epithelia/

caozeyuan · Answer

I think squamous is flat like cells, cuboidal is cube like and columnar is like rectancular

caozeyuan · Answer

Well, sorry, that is shapes of epithelium cells, maybe other cells have different shapes

anonymous · Answer

Cells have all different shapes and sizes. Their function makes them flat, depending on the function they flatter they are.