Hypertrophy is one of the ways cells grow to adapt to changes in their environment. This can be both good and bad. What does hypertrophied mean? This is, in the truest sense of the word, subjected to hypertrophy.
Definition of hypertrophy
The term is used to describe one of the ways in which cells (those tiny units that do important work in our bodies) adapt to environmental changes. It could be hormonal stimulation, inflammation, or increased workload.
In order for them to remain he althy, the environment in which this biological building material exists must also be he althy, and the work they must do must remain within normal limits. If significant changes occur in the environment, the cells will try to adapt to the situation in order to be able to continue working. One of the methods they use is the process of hypertrophy.
Hypertrophied cells
As cell size grows, some oftiny intracellular organelles, such as mitochondria, will increase in number to keep each unit enlarged.
Good or bad?
Increase in size can be both normal and pathological. Good hypertrophy (also called physiological) can happen to many types of cells throughout the body. Certain situations can cause the smallest particles, and therefore the organs and tissues that make up them, to increase in size. How to determine if hypertrophy is physiological or pathological? This can best be seen with concrete examples.
Physiological hypertrophy
Let's say you want to build biceps in your arms and increase muscle strength. To achieve this, you begin to engage in a special program that includes lifting weights. After a few weeks, your biceps are bigger and you are much stronger than before. What happened? Lifting weights caused an increase in the load on the muscles, which stimulated the start of the process of cellular adaptation. This type of hypertrophy is normal and expected, accompanied by normal structural changes in the muscles and an increase in their strength and functionality.
Physiological hypertrophy can also occur in the heart with increased workload. This can be seen in athletes who regularly participate in intensiveworkout. In this case, hypertrophy of individual cells leads to an increase in muscle mass, as well as increased cardiac function and increased endurance. It is important to note that physiological hypertrophy is reversible, so when exercise becomes less intense or stops, the hypertrophied (in our case, enlarged) organ returns to its normal (original) size.
Pathological hypertrophy
Which organ is hypertrophied? This is a part of the body that has been subjected to hypertrophy processes. Its abnormal type is also called pathological. It can occur for a number of reasons. A common example is pathological hypertrophy, which occurs when a person has chronically high blood pressure (hypertension). An increase in the size of one of the ventricles of the heart, in this case, is necessary in order to better cope with the pumping of blood.
True and false hypertrophy
Hypertrophic - translated from Greek (hyper - "excess, too, through" and trophy - "nutrition, food, food") means increased in volume. These can be cells, tissues, organs that begin to grow under the influence of a variety of factors.
Distinguish between true and false hypertrophy. The first is characterized by increased development of adipose tissue, the second is based on an increase in working muscles in people actively involved in sports or any other physical labor.
Meaning of the word: hypertrophied
This, in the truest sense of the word,increased in volume (due to illness, physical exertion). In a figurative sense, this word means the excess of something. So, a hypertrophied feeling is an exaggerated (embellished) feeling. The same can be said about qualities, properties and the like. For example, a hypertrophied self-preservation instinct is associated with increased, unjustified fear for one's life, etc.
