Hypertrophy - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ or tissue due to the increase in size of its cells. It commonly occurs in muscles through exercise or in response to disease.
Definition:
The enlargement of an organ or tissue due to increased cell size, not number.
Synonyms:
enlargement, growth, expansion, thickening
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
atrophy, shrinkage
Common Collocations:
muscle hypertrophy, cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal hypertrophy, hypertrophic growth
Derivatives:
hypertrophic, hypertrophied
Usage Tips:
Use "hypertrophy" to describe tissue growth from exercise or disease; avoid confusing it with "hyperplasia" (cell number increase).
Common Phrases:
muscle hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, compensatory hypertrophy
Etymology:
From Greek "hyper-" (over) + "-trophy" (nourishment), meaning excessive growth due to nourishment or stimulation.
Examples:
- 1. The weightlifter's muscles showed significant hypertrophy after months of training.
- 2. Cardiac hypertrophy can result from prolonged high blood pressure.
- 3. Doctors monitor kidney hypertrophy in patients with chronic conditions.
- 4. Hypertrophy of the heart muscle may impair its function over time.