88 Microbes and You 



about 0.1 micron in size. As an object for comparison, a human 

 red blood cell measures 7.5 microns in diameter. 



Area: 



1 square meter =100 square decimeters 



1 square decimeter =100 square centimeters 

 1 square centimeter = 100 square millimeters 

 1 square millimeter = 1,000,000 square microns 



Capacity: One liter is defined as the volume of pure water at 4° C. 

 (point of maximum density) and 760 millimeters pressure which 

 weighs one kilogram ( 1000 grams ) . 



1 liter = 1000 milliliters or 1000 cubic centimeters 



1 liter = 33.8 fluid ounces (32 ounces in one quart) 



1 cubic centimeter = 1000 cubic millimeters 



Mass: 



1 gram =10 decigrams 



1 decigram =10 centigrams 

 1 centigram = 10 milligrams 

 1 gram = 1000 milligrams 



SIZE 



While the exact size of bacteria does vary from one species to 

 another, in general these organisms lie within the range of 1 to 5 

 microns. Variations in size within this group of microorganisms, 

 when they do occur, tend to be reflected in the length rather than 

 in the width of the bacteria. 



One of the smallest microbes classified as a bacterium is found 

 in the nasopharynx of certain persons in the early stages of influenza, 

 and it has the scientific name Dialister pneumonsintes (from the 

 Greek pneumon, lung, and sintor, murderer or devastator). This 

 tiny organism measures only 0.15 fx by 0.3 jx, and it is pathogenic 

 for rabbits and guinea pigs. On the other end of the scale may be 

 cited Bacillus hutschlii, originally isolated from the cockroach, 

 Periplaneta orientalis. This bacillus measures 3.0 /x to 6.0 fx in 

 width and up to 80 ix in length. Most cocci fall within the range 



