hypertrophy

A morbid enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part resulting from an increase in size of its constituent cells.

An increase in the size of a tissue or organ due to growth of individual cells without an increase in the number of cells. Chronic hypertrophy of a muscle refers to a relatively permanent increase in its size, in contrast to temporary increases (transient hypertrophy) due, for example, to muscle pumping. Chronic hypertrophy results from resistance training that is repeated over a long period whereas muscle pumping occurs during a single exercise bout. See also hyperplasia.

Increase in volume of a tissue or organ produced entirely by enlargement of existing cells.

• brown h. of cere — cere hypertrophy.
• ventricular h. — hypertrophy of the myocardium of a ventricle, causing abnormal deviation of the axis of the electrocardiogram.