Definition

1. Noun:

   • Abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ: An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells, rather than an increase in the number of cells. This is often a response to increased demand, disease, or hormonal stimulation.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To undergo hypertrophy: To increase in size or bulk, specifically referring to an organ or tissue enlarging through cell growth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Left ventricular hypertrophy is a common finding in patients with long-standing high blood pressure.
  • The doctor diagnosed the condition as muscular hypertrophy caused by the intensive weight training.

• Verb:

  • With consistent resistance training, skeletal muscles will hypertrophy over time.
  • The heart muscle can hypertrophy in response to chronic stress.

Advanced Usage

• Compensatory hypertrophy: Enlargement of an organ or tissue that occurs to make up for lost function in a paired organ or other tissue.

  • After the removal of one kidney, the remaining kidney often undergoes compensatory hypertrophy.

• Pathological hypertrophy: Abnormal enlargement that is detrimental to function, often due to disease.

  • The pathological hypertrophy of the prostate gland can lead to urinary obstruction.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypertrophic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by hypertrophy.

  • The biopsy showed hypertrophic changes in the muscle tissue.

• Hypertrophied (adjective): Describing an organ or tissue that has undergone hypertrophy.

  • The hypertrophied heart muscle was less efficient at pumping blood.

Synonyms

• Enlargement (noun): The action or state of making or becoming larger.
• Overgrowth (noun): Excessive growth or increase in size.

Antonyms

• Atrophy (noun/verb): A decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.
• Hypoplasia (noun): Underdevelopment or incomplete development of an organ or tissue.

Related Phrases and Contexts

• "Hypertrophy of": Used to specify the organ or tissue that is enlarged.

  • Hypertrophy of the adrenal glands can disrupt hormone levels.

• "Induce hypertrophy": To cause enlargement.

  • Certain hormones can induce hypertrophy in target organs.

Noun

1. abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ

Verb

1. undergo hypertrophy
   • muscles can hypertrophy when people take steroids