Hypertrophy

Definition

Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of an organ or tissue through the enlargement of its cells, commonly observed in muscle tissue due to regular exercise and resistance training. It results from the synthesis of new proteins that contribute to muscle fiber growth.

Related terms

Atrophy: Atrophy is the opposite of hypertrophy, involving the decrease in size and strength of muscle tissue, often due to inactivity or disease.

Resistance training: Resistance training is a form of exercise designed to improve muscular fitness by exercising a muscle or a muscle group against external resistance.

Protein synthesis: Protein synthesis is the biological process in which cells build new proteins, an essential mechanism behind muscle growth (hypertrophy) following exercise