PHYSIOLOGICAL HYPERTROPHY Meaning and
Definition
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Physiological hypertrophy refers to the natural and healthy increase in the size and functional capacity of an organ or tissue due to specific physiological stimuli or demands. It occurs as part of the normal growth and adaptation process of the body, typically in response to regular exercise or increased workload.
During physiological hypertrophy, the individual cells within the affected organ or tissue enlarge, leading to an overall increase in its mass and volume. This type of hypertrophy typically occurs in organs such as muscles, heart, and even in certain parts of the brain.
Regular exercise, for instance, can trigger physiological hypertrophy in skeletal muscle cells. As a response to increased demand for contractile function, the muscle fibers thicken and strengthen, resulting in increased muscle mass and improved performance. Similarly, the heart undergoes physiological hypertrophy in response to regular aerobic exercise, leading to an enlargement of the cardiac muscle fibers and an enhancement in cardiac output.
Unlike pathological hypertrophy, which is associated with diseases or conditions like heart failure, physiological hypertrophy is considered a normal and beneficial adaptation of the body to support increased functional demands. Additionally, physiological hypertrophy is reversible, as with the cessation of the stimulus, the organ or tissue can return to its pre-stimulated size.
Overall, physiological hypertrophy is a natural and adaptive response in which an organ or tissue grows in size and strength due to specific physiological stimuli or demands, leading to improved functional capacity.
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Temporary increase in size of an organ or part to provide for a natural increase of function such as occurs in the walls of the uterus and in the mamma during pregnancy.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PHYSIOLOGICAL HYPERTROPHY
Etymology of PHYSIOLOGICAL HYPERTROPHY
The word "physiological hypertrophy" can be broken down into two parts: "physiological" and "hypertrophy".
1. Physiological: The term "physiological" is derived from the Greek word "phusiologikos", which combines "phusis" (meaning "nature" or "physical") and "logos" (meaning "study" or "science"). It refers to the study of the normal functioning and processes of living organisms.
2. Hypertrophy: The term "hypertrophy" originates from the Greek words "huper" (meaning "over" or "above") and "trophia" (meaning "nourishment" or "growth"). It is commonly used in medical and biological contexts to describe the enlargement or increase in size of an organ or tissue, usually resulting from an increase in the size or number of cells.
