Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy
Hypertrophy results from an increase in cell size, whereas hyperplasia stems from an increase in cell number.

Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells.¹ In multicellular organisms, growth is typically achieved through a combination of this cellular enlargement and hyperplasia, which is an increase in the number of cells.² While distinct processes, they often occur concurrently. Hypertrophy can lead to a relative increase in the volume of a tissue or organ, and contributes to the overall growth of an organism. In organisms characterized by eutely, where the total number of somatic cells is fixed upon reaching maturity, post-embryonic growth is achieved almost exclusively through hypertrophy.³ In humans and other mammals, hypertrophy is a normal physiological process, such as the hormonally induced enlargement of uterine cells during pregnancy.

Eccentric hypertrophy is a type of hypertrophy in which the walls and chamber of a hollow organ undergo growth, resulting in an overall increase in size and volume. It is most commonly described in the left ventricle of the heart.⁴ Sarcomeres are added in series, as for example in dilated cardiomyopathy (in contrast to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of concentric hypertrophy, where sarcomeres are added in parallel).

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  Breasts
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  Clitoris
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  Ear
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  Fingers
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  Foot (partial)
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  Gums
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  Heart
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  Kidneys
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  Temporal muscles
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  Tibia (inflammatory)
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  Tongue (inflammatory)
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  Upper lip
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  Urethral meatus