Glossary Term
Hypertophy
Hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass and size due to an increase in the volume and cross-sectional area of individual muscle cells. This adaptation occurs in response to progressive increases in workload and can be attributed to an increase in contractile proteins, glycogen storage, and elements related to metabolism. It is important to note that hypertrophy is not the same as hyperplasia, which is an increase in muscle size due to an adaptive increase in the number of muscle fibers/cells per muscle. Common types of muscular hypertrophy include myofibrillar hypertrophy and sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.
Hypertrophy: Hypertrophy is an increase in muscle mass/size due to increase in the volume and cross-sectional area (CSA) of individual muscle cells. The increase in cross-sectional area can be attributed to an an increase in contractile proteins and structural elements (myofibrillar hypertophy), as well as an increase in glycogen storage and elements related to metabolism (sarcoplasmic hypertophy). Hypertrophy is an adaptation of both cardiac and skeletal muscle fibers in response to progressive increases in workload.
- Note: Hypertrophy is not hyperplasia. Hyperplasia is an increase in muscle size due to an adaptive increase in the number of muscle fibers/cells per muscle. This type of adaptation does not occur in human muscle tissue.
Comments
Synonyms
- Muscle growth
- Muscular enlargement