pumping-up

A body-builder's term to describe the process of increasing the apparent size of muscle by lifting comparatively light weights many times in quick succession. The contraction of muscle compresses veins so that less blood leaves the capillaries than enters through the arteries. The pressure within the capillaries is raised, forcing some of the fluid out into the tissue spaces and increasing the size of the muscles. Shortly after exercise, the pressure is reduced as the excess fluid in the tissue spaces returns to the blood, and the size of the muscle returns to normal.

A body-builder's term for increasing the apparent size of muscle by lifting comparatively light weights many times in quick succession. The contraction of muscles compresses veins so that less blood leaves the capillaries than enters them through the arteries. The pressure within the capillaries is raised, forcing some of the fluid out into the tissue spaces and thus increasing the size of muscles. Shortly after exercise, the pressure is reduced as the excess fluid in the tissue spaces returns to the blood and the size of the muscle returns to normal.