Final answer:
The diameter of most animal cells ranges from 10 to 100 micrometers. This size allows for the necessary intracellular transport mechanisms that are present in eukaryotic animal cells. The correct answer is A: 10 to 100 micrometers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diameter of most animal cells ranges from 10 to 100 micrometers. To provide a visual perspective, a typical human red blood cell is about eight micrometers in diameter, which falls within this range. Eukaryotic cells, which include most animal cells, have developed various structural adaptations to facilitate intracellular transport due to their size.
In contrast to eukaryotic cells, prokaryotic cells are much smaller, with diameters ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 micrometers. The smaller size of prokaryotic cells allows for quick diffusion of ions and organic molecules as well as efficient removal of wastes, which is pivotal given their cellular simplicity compared to eukaryotic cells.
The correct answer to the student's question is A: the diameter of most animal cells ranges from 10 to 100 micrometers.